Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES)

Program Summary

Open Sky Career Services is a wrap-around service model that includes active participation in high level collaboration, coordination and communication with all partners serving those receiving supports through Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES), which is funded by Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).

We ensure that all resources are leveraged in order to assist all adults with disabilities to maximize their economic self-sufficiency through reaching employment goals.

Philosophy

Open Sky has been known as a leader in providing Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services for over 10 years, so when developing our approach in implementing the CIES model, we have used the principles of IPS as the foundation where appropriate including:

Zero exclusion
Honoring job seeker preference in the type of job, supports provided, and disclosure
Integrating all members of the job seeker’s team
Competitive employment in integrated settings with equal pay
Benefits planning counseling
Rapid job search
Provision of follow-along supports.

In any instances where IPS and CIES don’t align, we adhere to the CIES model.

In addition, through our affiliation with Boston University we piloted and adopted the “choose, get, keep” approach to rehabilitation; a model that mirrors CIES core principles as it assists individuals to set and achieve goals like CIES.

We are flexible in engaging job seekers in the CIES components that are relevant to their needs and goals, recognizing that services must be tailored to match the job seeker.

Goal

To assist adults with disabilities and other barriers to obtain and maintain competitive employment that matches their skills, preferences and interests.

This can include partnership and collaboration with employers (when job seeker agrees to disclosure) to ensure better communication, support and accommodation to improve job placement success.

Service Description

Career Services provides the following types of services, which are based upon components of the MRC CIES model and the DTA CIES model.

CIES services are provided Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 6:00pm.

Services are flexible to accommodate the needs and preferences of job seekers, so meetings sometimes occur outside of the listed time parameters.

Meeting Location

Also, depending on the individual’s preference, meetings can take place at:

The job seekers’ homes
The Open Sky office
A place in the community, such as a coffee shop or library

Meeting Frequency

Frequency of meetings varies depending on individual needs and preferences. When actively focused on seeking employment, meetings typically occur weekly, but sometimes more frequently as interviews and other needs arise.

Once individuals obtain employment, meeting frequency remains weekly (or more often) to ensure successful job placement; and these supports decrease per client preference and need over time.

There are no fees to job seekers for Career Services.

Details of the CIES models for MRC and DTA are as follows:

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

Career Exploration

Career Counselor assists the job seeker with exploring and articulating initial employment goals through completion of interest and skills assessments, review of results and further exploration of possible career paths based on assessment results.

Employment-Based Skills Training

Career Counselor engages the job seeker in review of training curriculum and application of employment-based skills activities, which will help the job seeker to develop desirable and essential skills for employment.

Job Development and Placement

Career Counselor helps the job seeker prepare for job search by

Completing a Career Plan, resume and Checklist for Employment Supports
Engaging in job search activities
Exploring transportation options
Preparing for interviews
Navigating the interview and onboarding process
Upon starting the job, providing supports to help the individual maintain the job for 1 month

This component is completed when the job seeker has obtained and maintained competitive employment for 30 days.

Initial Employment Supports

Career Counselor provides follow along support to the individual to help him/her maintain employment from day 31 of employment through day 90 of employment, thus becoming a Successful Employment Outcome (SEO).

Ongoing Supports or Extended Supports

Allows the Career Counselor to provide hourly supports to help the individual to maintains stable employment from day 91 and beyond. Employment support can be provided on or off the job setting.

Interim Flexible Supports

Allows the Career Counselor to provide hourly flexible support (including Job Coaching) necessary to assist a job seeker who does not require full participation in another component.

This can involve support when the individual needs hourly flexible supports for a temporary period of time, such as a short-term training or a seasonal job.

Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

Assessment and Goal Setting

Career Counselor completes an assessment that identifies the job seeker’s current strengths and needs across the five domains included in the Economic Stability Roadmap (ESR):

Family stability
Well-being
Financial management
Education and training
Employment and career

Career Counselor also completes a career assessment tool that identifies barriers to work, determines work skills and readiness, identifies needed skill development and supports the job seeker in developing individualized goals across the five domains of the ESR.

Job-Targeted Education and Skills Training Activities Ongoing Supports

Based on job seeker employment and career goals, Career Counselors work with them to identify education and skills training opportunities that will help them achieve those goals.

Based on identified needs identified in the ESR, Careers Counselors also help refer job seekers to resources in the community to address those barriers and needs (i.e., housing, childcare, debt management, etc.).

30-Day Job Retention

Career Counselor helps the job seeker prepare for job search by

Completing a Career Plan, resume and Checklist for Employment Supports
Engaging in job search activities
Exploring transportation options
Preparing for interviews
Navigating the interview and onboarding process
Upon starting the job, providing supports to help the individual maintain the job for 1 month

This component is completed when the job seeker has obtained and maintained competitive employment for 30 days. Career Counselor continues to support individuals to assess and address need areas identified in the ESR, with the goal of increasing their level of economic stability.

90-Day Job Retention

Career Counselor provides follow along support to the individual to help him/her maintain employment from day 31 of employment through day 90 of employment.

Career Counselor continues to support individuals to assess and address need areas identified in the ESR, with the goal of increasing their level of economic stability.

180-Day Job Retention

Career Counselor provides follow along support to the individual to help him/her maintain employment from day 91 of employment through day 180 of employment.