Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced five grant awards totaling $854K for the Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities. These grants will support initiatives to train young adults with disabilities for the workplace, place them into jobs, and provide post-placement support to help them stay employed. Awardees include Community Work Services (CWS) in Boston, Employment Options in Marlborough, Horace Mann Education Associates (HMEA) in Franklin, Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) in Boston, and the Polus Center for Social & Economic Development, Inc., in Petersham. Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities is funded through the state budget and administered by Commonwealth Corporation on behalf of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. “Training young people with disabilities, with the goal of placing them into opportunities that offer meaningful employment, is such important work as we look to create a more equitable workforce,” dijo la Secretaria de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral, Rosalin Acosta. “We are not able to be successful in these efforts without our community-focused partners and employers.” Each grant awardee will receive funding towards their high-quality training programs. “The growth of the Commonwealth’s investment in these programs is incredibly inspiring and will have real impact,” dijo Anthony Britt, Director de Estrategias Sectoriales de Commonwealth Corporation. “I am thrilled about the additional funding supporting these mission-driven organizations this year as they seek to build upon their work within the disability community. These programs are all about connecting people with employers who are committed to increasing job quality and inclusion in the workplace.” Applicants were required to be led by a community-based organization with demonstrated success and expertise in preparing young adults with disabilities for employment, placing them in unsubsidized positions, and providing post-placement support that leads to employment retention. Organizations also needed to show evidence of effective partnerships with employers that engage them in program design and delivery, resulting in placements and retained employment of young adults with disabilities in targeted occupations at the employers’ workplaces. The following is a complete list of the organizations awarded Young Adults with Disabilities Prepare for Employment grants: Servicios de trabajo comunitario (CWS), Boston: monto de financiación $151,000 CWS capacita y ubica a los participantes en artes culinarias, producción comercial y trabajos de mantenimiento de edificios y terrenos. Los socios del programa incluyen Star Market, Block by Block y Finesse Hospitality. Los aprendices también recibirán hasta 12 meses de orientación profesional para apoyar sus objetivos profesionales. Opciones de empleo, Marlborough: monto de financiación $145,000 Opciones de empleo capacita y coloca a los participantes en trabajos de servicio de alimentos. Los socios del programa incluyen Nothing Bundt Cakes, Niche Hospitality, Quinsigamond Community College y Work Without Limits/UMASS Medical School. Opciones de empleo se esfuerza por satisfacer continuamente las necesidades de sus socios empleadores mientras cultiva una cultura de inclusión que reconoce la capacidad y el valor de los adultos jóvenes con discapacidades. Asociados de educación de Horace Mann (HMEA), Franklin – monto de financiamiento $150,000 HMEA capacita y coloca a los participantes en puestos de tecnología de la información. Los socios del programa incluyen Dell, Iterators LLC, Neurodiversity in the Workplace y MassHire Central Region Workforce Board. El programa tiene como objetivo preparar a las personas en el espectro del autismo con los empleadores de tecnología de la información al abordar las barreras específicas para el empleo. Servicios Vocacionales Judíos (JVS), Boston – monto de financiamiento: $210,000 JVS capacita y coloca a los participantes en puestos de venta minorista y servicio de alimentos. Los socios del programa incluyen CVS Health, Sodexo y Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Los servicios están diseñados para satisfacer las necesidades de los adultos jóvenes con discapacidades y sus familias al cerrar las brechas en el sistema de servicios actual, particularmente la falta de oportunidades de empleo competitivas y los vínculos débiles con una comunidad comercial subutilizada. Centro Polus para el Desarrollo Social y Económico, Petersham - monto de financiación: $198,000 Polus Center trains and places participants in retail and customer service jobs. Program partners include Whole Foods Market, Price Chopper Market, MassHire North Central Workforce Board, and Thryv Consulting. Participants will complete four weeks of virtual “Retail Skills for Success” training followed by four weeks of on-the-job-training at one of the supermarkets. ###