Employment Services

The purpose of Riverside's Employment Services is to assist people in discovering the type of work they like and to teach the job skills necessary for satisfying employment experiences and careers. We provide assistance in securing employment and supporting people to be successful on the job. Services are individualized, meeting the goals of the employee and the requirements of the employer.

Riverside works in partnership with the Department of Mental Retardation, area schools, local Chambers of Commerce, Career Centers, and many other community resources to provide the most comprehensive, varied, and flexible supports available. These long-standing relationships ensure that each person receives a broad scope of support services necessary for successful employment.

Employment supports:

• Facilitate Job Matching and Procurement
• Conduct Job Education Classes
• Provide On the Job Training and Supervision
• Explore Transportation Strategies
• Coordinate Case Management
• Provide SSI/SSDI Benefits Counseling
• Promote Workplace Inclusion

Our goal is to support people in securing employment in the greater community. Supporting people to transition to fuller independence through specialized training, individual counseling, employer support, and follow-along is the objective of Employment services. Riverside offers a variety of employment models to meet the specific support needs of each individual:

Individual Placement

The term Individual placement is applied to employment situations where people are employed by local businesses, schools, or organizations, and their goal is to work on their own with natural supports from the employer and infrequent behind-the-scenes support from Riverside.

Mobile Work Crews

Enclaves are small groups of people hired to meet the demands of local employers. A full-time Employment Specialist provides continued on the job support and supervision in order to ensure success for each employee as well as to meet the employer's job requirements. These dependable workers are a reliable resource for local businesses while saving them money and time in recruiting and hiring.

One Cottage Street Employment

People work in our Production Department which secures contracts from local businesses including Chartpak, Dr. Hauchska, Hasbro, Pioneer Packaging, Tubed Products/Berry Plastics, and Yankee Candle. This facility based employment option provides opportunities for job exploration, work skills development, and a paycheck. Production work consists of collating, sorting, and packaging. Tucson & Savannah's, the restaurant in the building, also provides in-house employment and training while serving meals to the public. Many people who work at One Cottage Street are also employed part-time by other local businesses or give back to their community by volunteering.