Jay Nolan Community Services

Employment Services

Identifying and securing employment is a crucial pathway to personal empowerment and independence.
Jay Nolan Community Services

Employment Services

Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is dedicated to supporting everyone’s goals of gainful and meaningful employment. The menu of Employment Services is designed to meet people where they are in their journeys. This can start with ACE (Access to Customized Employment) Services and the discovery process in which a person trials different skills and experiences to identify what matches her/his skills, interests, and ideal conditions for success. Services can also be provided to assist people in education endeavors, job searching, on the job training, and even starting a business using funding from both Regional Center and Department of Rehabilitation.

Jay Nolan Community Services

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Supported Employment

Supported Employment (SE)

Employment is a major part of everyone’s life. For lots of people it is just a paycheck. For others, it becomes a badge of independence, a way to gain self-respect, and a way of saying to the world that they have capabilities that are meaningful and they want to share it and give back to society.

The Supported Employment program at Jay Nolan Community Services is geared toward assisting people to work in a community integrated work setting. We do this by providing coaching, assistance, mentoring, financial planning and benefits management, and accessing public and private resources. Support is gradually phased out as the individual gains the necessary vocational skills and experience to work independently.

CARF 

The Supported Employment program at JNCS has been issued a three-year CARF Accreditation based on a 2017 survey.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services, enhancing the lives of persons served worldwide. Accreditation is an ongoing process that distinguishes a provider’s service delivery and signals the public that the provider is committed to continuous performance improvement, responsive to feedback, and accountable to the community and its other stakeholders.

View the 2017 CARF Accreditation Report
Learn more about CARF International

PVSA Training

Personal, Vocational, Social Adjustment (PVSA) Training

Personal, Vocational, Social Adjustment (PVSA) Training is focused on providing customized support to individuals who are seeking additional assistance to reduce specific barriers to meaningful employment. Specific barriers are identified by the individual’s vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and may include issues such as interpersonal skills, mobility training, work habits, and other issues relevant to securing and maintaining employment.

PVSA services provided by Jay Nolan Community Services are outcome-driven and follow the guidelines of each individual’s Individual Program Plan (IPP).

External Situational Assessment

External Situational Assessment (ESA)

Job Coaching: sometimes there is a need to receive job coaching. Job coaching is very time-limited and is based on ensuring success on the job. Individuals are paired with a coach that will assist with needs based on employment. Each placement is very individualized, thus goals are different for everyone. JNCS typically provides about 3 months of coaching at around 20% of the time individuals are employed (i.e. if an individual is employed 25 hours a week, coaching could be at 5 hours).

During that time the following activities take place:

  • Writing a personalized employment plan with goals identified
  • Accessing the local WorkSource
  • Identifying volunteer/paid employment opportunities
  • Job shadowing/observation
  • Identifying necessary resources (i.e. assistive technology)
  • Meeting with the circle of support to gather information on ideal conditions for successful employment

Once all information has been gathered, a final report is sent to the DOR Counselor for the next steps to employment.

Direct Placement

Direct Placement (DP)

The Direct Placement (DP) employment service is a Department of Rehabilitation Service (DOR). Once the referral is made by DOR, an individual is assigned a job developer and goes through the steps from intake to job placement and eventually retention.

The steps for Direct Placement include:

  • Intake: Direct Placement starts with a review of the job choice, job plan, local labor market, and prior work history. A resumé is completed and an employment plan with goals is developed.
  • Employment Preparation Services: the individual and job developer review interviewing techniques, completing job applications, understanding workplace culture, and benefits planning and identify additional resources that may be needed by the individual to make them successful in the workplace (i.e. transportation needs).
  • Job Development: the individual works in partnership with their job developer to identify job openings, understand the qualifications for specific places of employment, and send in job applications. The job developer may assist with interviews, making initial contact, consulting with prospective employers, negotiating the right job, and assisting in placement to meet employment goals.
  • Job Placement: once employment has been identified, the individual and the job developer work on understanding the job description, transportation needs, performance expectations, benefits, company policies and workplace culture, safety practices, probation and performance evaluation procedures.
  • Job Coaching: sometimes there is a need to receive job coaching. Job coaching is very time-limited and is based on ensuring success on the job. Individuals are paired with a coach that will assist with needs based on employment. Each placement is very individualized, thus goals are different for everyone. JNCS typically provides about 3 months of coaching at around 20% of the time individuals are employed (i.e. if an individual is employed 25 hours a week, coaching could be at 5 hours).
  • Retention: once the individual has been on the job for a while, the job developer will contact them and/or the supervisor to ensure that they are successful. After 3 months, individuals are deemed successful and no longer require support services.
Ticket to Work

Ticket to Work (TTW)

The Ticket to Work (TTW) and Self-Sufficiency Program is a work incentive program under the Social Security Administration (SSA). The TTW Program is designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced a beneficiary’s decisions about going to work because of the concerns over losing cash benefits and health care coverage. The program is free and voluntary for individuals with disabilities who wish to find meaningful employment. Eligible participants must be beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who are between the ages of 18 and 64.

What is a Ticket?

A “Ticket” can be used to obtain employment services and support from State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies such as the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) or SSA-approved service providers called Employment Network (EN) under the TTW program.

For more information, please visit Ticket to Work Program 

Paid Internship Program

Paid Internship Program (PIP)

The Paid Internship Program (PIP) is an initiative to encourage competitive employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. The purpose of PIP is to improve the vocational skills of consumers who choose to participate in an internship as part of their Individual Program Plan (IPP). The goals of this program include gaining skills and experience needed for future paid employment, or for the internship itself to lead to full- or part-time paid employment in the same job.

Funding is available through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Total funding for each internship is up to $10,400 per year. These funds cover individual wages and any associated employer costs.

VITA tax services

VITA tax services

Jay Nolan Community Services has trained volunteers to assist eligible individuals with tax preparation as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

VITA is an IRS initiative designed to promote and support free tax preparation service. This service targets low-to-moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and those where English is a second language. Tax services through JNCS are available every year from January to April.

Benefits Planning

Benefits Planning

A credentialed Work Incentive Practitioner can provide information needed for making informed decisions about work to people who have disabilities and receive public benefits.  This service is individual-based and will help each individual understand how earnings may affect SSI and/or SSDI payments, healthcare, and other publicly funded benefits.  The Work Incentive Practitioner will also be able to provide information on work incentives that may be utilized to lower the amount of countable earnings for benefit eligibility.

Employment Soft Skills Training

The Employment Soft Skills Training program at Jay Nolan Community Services is designed to address challenges related to soft skills for young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Topics include: networking, character building, employment law, dressing for success, drafting a resume, benefits planning, interview essentials, and more.

Participants will receive a certificate of completion, a customized cover letter and resume, and an individualized service plan for benefits planning. Post-program support includes a referral to the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for job placement, a $100 stipend for purchasing professional attire, and ongoing virtual reality interview training.

The Employment Soft Skills Training program is made possible through a grant from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

Training Curriculum:

This program involves in-classroom training four days per week (4 hours per day) over the course of 12 weeks. Additional support is available during office hours every Friday.

  • Cohort 1: Fall 2023
  • Cohort 2: Winter 2024

Who is Eligible:

Transition Aged Youth (ages 18-24) with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities living in the Santa Clarita Valley and currently being served through the Regional Center. Preference will be given to individuals who are Deaf or have Hard of Hearing needs, have high support needs and/or come from under-served communities.

Informational Sessions (Online)

Learn more about this training program at one of our upcoming online info sessions:

Interested? Please contact Karen Navarro at knavarro@jaynolan.org or call 818-838-5432.

Read the Press Release

Download Flyers: [English] [Spanish/Español] [Korean]

Explore JNCS
Services Offered by JNCS
Training Department

Our organizational training department at Jay Nolan Community Services has a threefold mission. First, to provide training to new employees so that they are equipped with the information and skills they need to be successful on the job. Second, to provide ongoing training and skill set that aid in the professional development and retention of incumbent staff. And third, to develop and create events and opportunities for community outreach through our educational programs and advocacy involvement.

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Self-Determination

The Self-Determination Program is a program maintained by the Department of Developmental Services which allows individuals (or their parents or legal representatives) the freedom to choose the support services and the provider that meet the needs of their personal-centered plan. All participants are responsible for staying within their annual budget.

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Employment Services

Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is dedicated to supporting everyone’s goals of gainful and meaningful employment. The menu of Employment Services is designed to meet people where they are in their journeys.

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Uniquely Abled Academy

Starting in 2018, Jay Nolan Community Services has collaborated with the innovative Uniquely Abled Project (UAP), which shifts the paradigm of thinking from “disabled” to “uniquely abled.” JNCS and College of the Canyons (COC) work together to identify and train individuals to participate in the CNC training program through the Economic Development Division at COC through the Uniquely Abled Academy (UAA).

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Family Support Services

We know that healthy family relationships are the foundation to realizing a great life! That is why at Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS), we believe in keeping children with autism and other developmental disabilities with their own family whenever possible.

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Independent Living

The Independent Living Services (ILS) program at Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is designed to actively teach adults that are currently living in or will be moving out into their own homes, or need to become more independent while living in the family home. Direct instruction may include daily living activities such as maintaining a house and going to medical appointments.

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Supported Living (SLS)

People with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities have the right to access assistance and supports to live a valued life in the community.

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San Jose Services

Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) offers Supported Living Services (SLS) to people living in Santa Clara County through our San Jose office.

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Deaf Plus Individuals

Sign Language Interpreting and Language Accommodation

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Jay Nolan Camp

Inclusive Camp For Kids With & Without disabilities

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NEWSLETTER