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Supported Employment
Program participants are referred
to Career Opportunity Development, Inc (CODI)
by the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
(DVR) or the Division of Developmental Disabilities
(DDD). Those individuals wanting to work in a
vocational setting but not in a community job
are usually referred by DVR for extended employment.
Extended employees work in our outsource center
on a piecework basis. They work in many different
areas including bottle inspection, packaging,
collating, stuff and seal mailing jobs, coin sorting
and assembly. Some extended employees also participate
on enclaves in the community doing maintenance
work as part of a paid training program. Those
participants who DVR feel will not be able to
meet the criteria of producing 20% of the industrial
standard are referred by DDD to the Work Adult
Training Center (WATC) program and do similar
piecework to extended employees.
People who enter DVR services with the goal of
finding community employment are often referred
to CODI for a twenty-five or fifty day vocational
evaluation. During this time they are evaluated
for work readiness, a commitment to learning appropriate
work behaviors, dependability, a willingness to
do career exploration and an assessment of current
work skills or the ability to develop work skills.
At the end of the assessment period, the evaluator
meets with the participant and his DVR counselor
to develop an employment plan. Those participants
deemed as good candidates for successful job placement
are referred to our supported employment program
and receive the services of a job coach who helps
them find a job and then trains them to do it.
CODI has placed individuals in just about every
type of job including:
• Various casino positions
• Nursing homes
• Food service
• Housekeeping
• Security
• Janitorial services
• Various retail positions
Some participants are referred directly by DVR
for time-limited job coaching where they receive
the same services as those in supported employment
on a time limited basis which means that they
do not need long-term support. CODI's success
rate with employers in Atlantic County from Hammonton
to Atlantic City, Smithville to the Hamilton Mall
is reflected in a large job bank of desirable
jobs throughout the county.
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