Vocational Services
Tom Hines rolls out some of the plants that are grown and sold at Little City. The horticulture program is just one of the many options available to those who take part in the vocational program.
Promoting self-determination by providing personal, decision-making opportunities is critical to enhancing one’s daily life experiences. At Little City, decisions about the types of services and supports to be provided are made by the individual and his/her family, along with the input from key service providers.
Each individual receiving vocational and training services is supported by a Case Manager who provides the needed advocacy, professional guidance and service coordination to ensure individual participants are able to pursue life and work goals.
All of the adults who receive residential services at Little City are supported in one of the employment and training programs. Additionally, the program accepts community participants who receive Department of Human Services (DHS) funding.
Community Employment
This program provides assistance to individuals in finding and keeping employment in the private sector. The program’s network includes more than 70 companies who have employed more than 250 full- and part-time workers. Supports include:
- Job-searching skills
- Job placement, seeking the best possible match between the employer/job needs and the individual’s strengths
- Job training and maintaining job performance through intermittent job coaching
- Supported work enclaves in which several individuals are employed at a community worksite with the ongoing support of a job coach
Taking part in vocational programs enable Little City residents to enjoy “real work for real pay.”
Adult Vocational Service Center (AVSC)
This program provides individuals with the needed support to engage in paid work opportunities. Little City Foundation solicits subcontract work in the areas of assembly, packaging, collating, shredding and inspection in order to offer work-skill development as well as paid wages. The AVSC also offers a variety of educational and experiential activities, based on the preferred choices of the participants. Choices include not only Center-based options, such as a leisure and hobby activities, community opportunities, seniors’ activities, as well as access to The Center for the Arts, horticulture therapy, and recreation.
The Life Enrichment Program
This program provides services to individuals with severe challenges who require a smaller group in which to learn. The primary focus in this program is to expand the individual’s ability to communicate, either through universal modes, picture systems or verbally. Other areas of emphasis include activities of daily living, self-help skills, recreation and routine community participation opportunities.
Learn More!
Contact Lisa Dworkin at (847) 221-7717 or ldworkin@littlecity.org.