
Eastway Corporation Matches Workers with Jobs
Community employers call Eastway for workers who are “enthusiastic” and “reliable”
Dayton, Ohio. July 1, 2009. Louis* worked for over 15 years in Eastway’s sheltered workshop
doing piecework. As a severely mentally challenged man living in a group home, he didn’t have
the capabilities to compile a résumé, network, or demonstrate his capabilities on his own. But
just last week, Eastway’s Supported Employment services found Louis a job on a janitorial staff
– the first job in his life outside of sheltered workshops. *Client’s name changed for anonymity.
Supported Employment is available to clients receiving community support services through
Eastway. The program integrates employment with treatment, provides personalized benefits
counseling, and offers continuous follow-along support. People who may not otherwise have an
opportunity for employment receive the needed support to become competitive in the workforce.
A high value is placed on client interest - clients have worked in many different types of positions
at companies across the region. One client even achieved the dream of working as a
professional pianist because Eastway matched him with a local church in need.
Community employers are so confident in Eastway’s ability to provide appropriately skilled labor
that they are now calling the Supported Employment offices directly to avoid the time and
financial costs of a job search. Rochele Burnette, Eastway’s Supported Employment Manager
says, “We are the first call for many employers because they can count on us to provide workers
who are dedicated, enthusiastic and reliable for job openings which typically have very high
turnover.”
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