Services

Service authorization originates from the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). Those services are time limited and individualized. Authorized services may include any of the following and more depending on client need.

Career Counseling & Occupational Exploration: Career Advantage works with each client to identify employment skills, interests, and goals.

Job Preparation: As needed, Career Advantage staff work with participants to develop work-related skills, attitudes, behaviors, and functional capacities to achieve a good fit and successful employment outcomes.

Job Development and Placement: Career Advantage staff uses vocational assessment information to target jobs that result in a good fit for employers and the client. Depending on the goal, this process can take time. This service also includes assistance with resumes, cover letters, applications, leads, mock interviews and assistance with follow up calls, onboarding paperwork and more.

Job Coaching and Follow Along Support Services: To ensure long-term success on the job, Career Advantage assists participants with learning new job tasks and helps them understand job cultures and industry practices. Job coaching is a service that allows the Employment Consultant/Job Coach to work alongside you in the workplace. It should be noted that not all employers allow Job Coaching services. We will maintain contact with you and your employer until your case is successfully closed with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).

Work Experience/Employment Skills: The Employment Skills Program (ESP) is designed to provide individuals with disabilities who have limited work experience with an opportunity to experience career opportunities, develop skills and build a positive work history. This work experience for up to 250 hours, is funded by the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs in the Divisions of Rehabilitation Services and Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired. If needed, a Job Developer and Job Coach will be provided to assist in finding employment and training you on the job tasks.

Situational Assessment: Situational assessments are essentially the observations of people performing work situations in real work settings to assess the participant's skills, preferences, and support needs in that particular environment. It involves a practice of observing, evaluating, and reporting over a period. During this assessment, a client’s behavior and work performance in a job situation and interaction with other employees is observed. This type of evaluation helps the client learn the role of a worker and allows the evaluator to assess many more work behaviors than can be explored with standardized vocational testing approaches. You can think of this as a short term internship. It should be noted that not all employers allow this service.

Vocational Evaluation: This process includes both Limited and Comprehensive Vocational services. The client engages in a number of assessments that measure achievement, work tolerance, personality, range of motion, physical capacity, rate of work, occupational interests and more. Every evaluation process is individualized and validated with normative data. This process helps VR counselors and the participant understand skills, limitations, and provides recommendations to help the client with vocational success.

Customized Employment/Discovery: An in depth process focused on individualizing the employment relationship between employees and employers in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the person with a disability, and is also designed to meet the specific needs of the employer. It may include employment developed through job carving, self-employment or entrepreneurial initiatives, or other job development or restructuring strategies that result in job responsibilities being customized and individually negotiated to fit the needs of individuals with a disability.

Additional information you should know.

Cost of Services: Career Advantage provides Supported Employment services free of charge to anyone connected to a third party funding source. This often includes SD DHS-DRS or other funding sources that Career Advantage may be working or contracted with.

Staff Competency: Career Advantage staff members are equipped to provide services specifically to people with disabilities. Staff receive ongoing training so they are knowledgeable in the area of resources and other programs that have the potential to benefit participants. All staff are CESP (Certified Employment Support Professionals), nationally recognized and registered through the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE).

SERVICE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to participate in the Supported Employment program, participants must meet the following criteria (Please note that this may be reviewed at any time and an applicant may be required to provide documentation proving eligibility):

• Be at least 16 years old.

• Have a disability that interferes with the ability to be gainfully employed in the community.

• Possess a state-issued identification card and a social security card.

• Be legally eligible to work in the United States.

• Have enough independent function and that does not require indefinite one-on-one staff assistance, unless the client is able to hire a personal assistant.

• Maintain conduct that doesn’t endanger one’s self or others.

• Must be eligible for third party funding.

• Be able to complete all the requirements of our intake process, such as signing release forms and providing emergency procedure/contact information.

Additional Resources, also located under the resource tab:

SD Department of Human Services

Division of Rehabilitation Services

Office and Contact Information for Division of Rehabilitation Services

Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired

For additional information regarding Vocational Rehabilitation services please contact your local Vocational Rehabilitation office.

For Career Advantage service inquiries, please contact the program’s Director, Matt Simet at (605) 695-8471 or at matt.simet@advancebkg.com.