JARC FL Expands Community Works Program for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Aug. 29, 2016 - PRLog -- JARC Florida (Jewish Association for Residential Care), a non-profit, non-sectarian organization that provides program and services to educate and empower individuals with intellectual and development disabilities, has been teaching, guiding, and nurturing adults with development disabilities in the South Florida region for more than three decades. However, there has never been a program that more adequately prepares and gives JARC FL clients a better opportunity to be productive, paid and valuable employees than the JARC Community Works Program.

The Community Works Program first launched in late 2014 at JARC FL thanks to a partnership with Marshalls. As a result of a $180,000 sponsorship grant by the State of Florida, Department of Economic Opportunity, the Community Works Program has since grown to include partnerships with Marshalls, The Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux Cafe, T.J. Maxx, Boca Beauty Academy and Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and currently supports 30-plus individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The program allows JARC clients to work at a partner business as a trainee, completing tasks ranging from chopping jalapeños and portioning food to folding napkins and completing janitorial tasks. The clients are paid minimum wage by JARC FL – through the state grant – which essentially gives the partner business free labor. In exchange, the businesses are expected to train, guide and provide a healthy and productive working environment for their respective JARC employees.

"This program educates the employers as to the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities," said Nancy Freiwald, JARC Florida's director of program services. "The hope is that the company will see true value in our clients and eventually hire them as traditional employees."

Each location is supported by a JARC staff person, who supervises and makes sure clients are following instruction. The clients report to work between two and four days a week for about three to five hours per day, depending on the location.

"Our clients love the experience," Freiwald added. "It's like a real job where they get to be in the community with their peers, working and earning money. It's a very independent feeling for them."

"The Cheesecake Factory is honored to work with JARC and their clients," said Gregg Terrazzano, Area Kitchen Operations for The Cheesecake Factory Inc. "They have assimilated in our restaurants relatively easily and have become a part of our Cheesecake Factory family. Further, being able to assist JARC in integrating their clients into the workforce is a very rewarding experience for both our operators and staff. The trainees have become a very productive part of our restaurant and we are thankful to have been chosen as a key partner in this program."

"The JARC Community Works Program has been a fantastic addition to our team here at Grand Lux Cafe, Boca Raton," said Craig Jones, Area Kitchen Operations Manager, East Coast, Grand Lux Café. "The people that come and volunteer have become a part of our family and we look forward to the time we get to spend with them on each week. I am so thankful that JARC thought of us as a great place for this terrific program!"

According to Freiwald, the other main components of the program are:

·       Learning to complete a job application online;

·       Interview skills; and

·       Appropriate dress and social interaction.

"It's a real opportunity for our clients as they are challenged but at the same time comfortable being surrounded by their peers and other JARC clients just like them," she added. "They are able to ease into the new environment and excel at their own pace."

According to JARC FL, this program is unique to South Florida as it is focusing on new trends towards community integration of intellectually and developmentally disabled adults rather than "structured workshops" where they are traditionally paid less than minimum wage.

As a result of the Community Works Program, three clients have already been hired at Marshalls and two more are currently going through the hiring process – also at Marshalls. One of those clients is Michael LaForge, whose job includes sorting products and tagging. He has been working at Marshalls for two months as a trainee and expects to be hired as a traditional employee in the coming months.

"I like working at Marshalls," LaForge said. "I have a nice boss. The people are friendly and I like being in the community and meeting new people."

JARC supports approximately 300 clients, of which 70 live in group homes, 32 live in the on-campus apartment complex, and the remaining clients come during the workday for the organization's job training program. JARC clients range in age from 18 to over 80 years old. The success of JARC can be attributed to its state-of-the-art facility and unique program model, which includes a variety of vocational training services in the areas of fulfillment, culinary, environmental services, and computer assisted learning. JARC Florida is run and managed by a professional staff of about 100 as well as a volunteer board of directors. The JARC management team boasts over 195 collective years of experience with Adults with Developmental Disabilities; the staff speaks a collective 10 languages.

About JARC
JARC Florida, a non-sectarian organization based in Boca Raton, provides group homes, apartments and vocational training for adults with developmental disabilities. Learn more at http://jarcfl.org.