Programs and Services

Career Foundations

Career Foundations provides vocational preparation for individuals who are interested in developing work skills. This service provides a non-traditional learning environment with unique schedules for each participant specific to their Individual Plan of Action (POA). The classes focuses on the Four Modules of Training, which are:

• Job Searching Skills,
• Application and Interviewing Skills,
• Work Related Skills and Employment Retention,
• Employment Benefits.

Lessons learned in these areas help to develop compensatory strategies which will help participants to organize, plan, make decisions, and cope with workplace cultures. Career Advocates help participants work through the difficult process of personal disability adjustment.

This sensitivity is very effective in implementing compensatory strategies, which better prepare participants to compete successfully in the workplace. Simulated work environments are also created to evaluate and fine tune individuals work skills. For example, some of the participants are involved in a Volunteer Class where they do volunteer work for staff. They shred old documents, put together Employee Handbooks and New Employee Packets and work on various projects that occur throughout the year.

Other participants work in the Centre's Duckpond Cafe. Every Friday, they prepare and serve lunch to the staff, Centre guests, and participants at the Centre. The Duckpond Cafe also caters Centre events throughout the year such as UCP Board Meetings and various UCP staff workshops.

Completion of Career Foundations is determined when the participant’s pre-vocational goals have been met. For some, this achievement may lead them to Supported Employment services, which provides one-on-one support through the process of job placement, job coaching and follow up support. For others, the next step is placement in a volunteer position to further develop skills and to establish a current work history for their resume.

For more information about Career Foundations, please contact UCP at (412) 683-7100 or send an e-mail.

http://www.ucppittsburgh.org
Updated: 11/19/2007