Programs
"OSI
has given Pat goals, a means of self-expression, a daily social interchange,
and a sense of pride and achievement."
- OSI parent
Vocational Programs in Franklin County
A 4 week testing period to determine an individual's capabilities, work interest, work habits and attitudes, and establishing appropriate vocational goals. A vocational evaluator conducts a series of tests which provides a comprehensive vocational profile. This profile enables OSI’s staff to provide the individual with appropriate levels of vocational programming that allows for maximum vocational growth and experiences. This program is purchased by:
1) Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
2) Franklin/Fulton County Mental Health/Mental Retardation
3) Bureau of Visual Services
4) School Districts
Community Based Work Assessment
This program provides vocational assessment within competitive job sites consistent with the individual's interests and capabilities. The individual is assigned to various job sites during the assessment period, during which work habits, skills, and aptitudes are evaluated. A vocational rehabilitation job coach accompanies the individual, providing assistance as necessary. Results of the assessment enable the individual to pursue vocational objectives.
Personal & Work Adjustment Training
A vocational rehabilitation program is designed to develop an individual's capabilities to the optimal level in all areas (vocational, social, and emotional). This program is sponsored by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This program may last up to 16 weeks. The primary qualifying element is the outlook for attainment of competitive employment within a short period of time. Individuals are assigned a counselor and placed in a competitively oriented work center. This program is purchased by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. It has 10 slots.
Work Activities
When sheltered employment is the most appropriate of vocational setting, work activities provide long-term programming. This program offers training in all spheres of employment to include job training on a variety of jobs, social competence in the work place, and worker personality. As individuals are assigned a counselor and placed in a work center they are helped to reach their highest level of employability. At OSI’s sheltered workshop clients perform in-house subcontracting services in Chambersburg, PA . This program is allowed up to 140 clients. This program is purchased by the following:
1) Franklin/Fulton Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program
2) Local School Districts
"I love OSI and all the people there." - OSI consumer
MH/MR Job Support Services
MH/MR Job Placement in Franklin County
This program provides job placement, on site job training for a limited time, and follow up services to Mentally Retarded individuals with IQ's above 58. It is very similar to Supported Employment in terms of placing and training clients at job sites. This program is purchased by Franklin/Fulton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program. It services up to eight clients per year
Supported Employment
This program provides one on one job training for an extensive period of time by a Vocational Rehabilitation Job Coach. Individuals in this program are considered severely disabled and need life enduring support systems. Clients are placed into real competitive employment jobs in the community and are trained and assisted by the Job Coach until the client masters the job. This program is funded by the State through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Franklin/Fulton Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program.
Experiential Training
This program provides vocational rehabilitation job coaching which is directed at the client's mental awareness of the activity at hand in a competitive employment job site work environment. The program permits a client to experience the real demands made on an employee. Though the client is not employed by the site, the client is trained on a variety of different job requirements in order to expand the client's job knowledge and job demands. Readiness and motivation for competitive employment are assessed. This program is purchased by Franklin/Fulton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program. This could lead to Special Needs employment services in Chambersburg, PA or surrounding areas based on consumer’s transportation arrangements.
Daily Living Skills Program
The Daily Living Skills program is designed to develop an individual's capabilities in areas of daily living, enabling him or her to be more independent and to be better able to meet individual goals. This program is open to all clients regardless of sponsorship. The individual works either individually or in a group setting with the Daily Living Skills Instructor in areas including but not limited to academic skills, budgeting, personal hygiene, specific job skill training, social skills development, community orientation, and time management.
School-to-Work Transition
Studies have revealed that students who are not seeking higher education are lacking preparation for and connections to employment opportunities. OSI eases this school-to-work transition through various approaches for those seeking assistance: integrated academic and vocational education, and linking schooling with the demands and realities of the workplace. OSI can temporarily incorporate its services into this program as well as providing vocational evaluation programs to assess the skills of the individual. After placement, OSI can follow-up with Job Coaching services to complete the transition. Targeting consumers with disabilities earlier within their education allows the school-to-work transition for these individuals to become more natural as well as incorporate them into society with less time spent in sheltered workshops.
