Employment Specialists Help Remove Barriers

By Laura French, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: February 12, 2004 - 10:00 PM

Vocational coordinator, job coach, employment specialist, job developer, placement specialist: All of these social services careers involve helping others to find and keep jobs.

Increasing Self-Sufficiency and Productivity

Rise, Inc., is one of several Minnesota social service agencies that helps people increase their self-sufficiency and productivity. Founded in 1971, Rise, Inc., has assisted more than 13,000 people to date. Information about all of the organization's programs, as well as profiles of people it serves, can be found on its Web site, www.rise.org.

Sara Gerst coordinates the Rise, Inc., mental health services program in the Twin Cities. Her staff includes placement specialists who work with participants to plan career goals and find employment. Placement specialists form a different relationship with each participant, Gerst says. Participants have a range of serious mental health issues, from major depression to bipolar disorder to schizophrenia. Clients from Minnesota's refugee and immigrant communities are sometimes victims of post-traumatic stress disorder. Some clients have master's degrees; others have never finished high school.

Depending on participants' needs, the placement specialists might help prepare résumés or fill out job applications. They might arrange mock interviews to get participants comfortable with the process. In some cases, they need to work with the Social Security Administration to see how a job will impact disability benefits.

Support and Problem Solving

Once a participant is placed in a job, Rise, Inc.'s, follow-up specialist works with the person to help him or her retain the job. The follow-up specialist might offer everything from general support to specific problem solving aid. If a specific job skill is involved, a job coach might be called in for a limited time to help.

Gerst says a social service background can be a plus but isn't essential for the work. "Our people need to understand the social service realm, but they also need to understand business. They need to have a sales and marketing personality to "sell" a candidate. The employer may have a hundred applications - why choose yours?" Gerst says.

"Knowledge of mental health is useful," Gerst adds. "If you know how depression affects a person, or the side effects of medications, you can be more proactive in helping the participant."

Visible Rewards

Access to Employment (ATE) is another Minnesota organization working to remove barriers to employment. Becky Brink, program manager for ATE, says she looks for a two-year degree in human services with experience, or a four-year degree in an applied behavioral science field. Enthusiasm, flexibility and attention to detail are important traits.

Diane Johnson, vocational coordinator, came to Access to Employment after working for 13 years in corporate America. Johnson says, "The job is challenging but the rewards are visible. You can see when someone achieves gainful employment. You can see when someone is experiencing barriers and makes progress. I believe every person has worth and skills and that each person deserves to reach their potential - and the great thing is that I get to be part of that process and love what I do."

Laura French is principal of Words Into Action, Inc., and is a freelance writer from Roseville, MN.

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