Welcome, Ian!
Community Employment Services
The CES team continues to grow, with a newcomer to the Port Townsend office. Ian Cheeseman joined in November 2020 as an Employment Specialist in Port Townsend to help serve our DDA clients. He is learning fast with the guidance of recently-promoted CES Supervisor Robin Burdick. Ian brings with him 7 years of knowledge and experience supporting folks with disabilities as a Direct Support Professional in a residential group home. We are excited to have him join Team Skookum.
15 Years & Counting!
October 2020 marked 15 years at Skookum for Brian, who most friends and coworkers know as "Woody." Since 2005, Woody has worked with his teammates to keep the Jefferson County Recycle Center and surrounding area clean and tidy. Job Coach Dave Scott supervises the crew as part of a Group-Supported Employment (GSE) site. On a typical Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, Woody is hard at work cleaning up trash in and around the building. Woody and his coworkers also help keep Lower County clean of trash after the wind carries it away from the building. COVID-19 has changed things up for now, but we can't wait to have him hard at work again soon. Congratulations on 15 years with Skookum, Woody!
February 2021 Newsletter
Partnerships with Treatment Centers
Over the past year, Skookum has worked hard to build partnerships with local chemical dependency treatment centers to provide employment services to individuals with substance use disorders and/or dual-diagnosis substance use and mental health disabilities.
Agape Unlimited (Bremerton)
Cascadia-Bountiful Life (Bremerton)
Many thanks to our current & future partner organizations, and to recently promoted CES Supervisor Tonya Brinkley for spearheading our efforts to expand FCS services.
Kitsap Recovery Center (Port Orchard)
FCS Updates
Current FCS Partner Organizations
We are happy to be supporting clients through the Medicaid-funded Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Program. Supported employment services through FCS allow us to serve those who might not qualify for services through other programs, or may otherwise not be able to receive long-term support after job placement.
New Employer Partnerships
CES staff continue to take all necessary precautions to stay safe and help keep clients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, including wearing masks when meeting in-person, meeting with many clients & stakeholders remotely, and working from home when possible.
Over the past year, Skookum has been hard at work expanding our services through Social Security's Ticket to Work Program. Designed to help beneficiaries who are on Social Security (SSI/SSDI) cash benefits, Ticket to Work helps those who want to increase their work earnings and become financially independent. Skookum is one of many Employment Networks (ENs) across the country who provide services to help beneficiaries find and maintain employment so they can transition off SSI/SSDI cash benefits. CES management recently made the decision to expand virtual services across Washington state, in part because beneficiaries in some parts of Washington do not have many ENs who provide services in their area. We may also soon be expanding remote services to other states.
Thank you to the following employers for partnering with CES to hire people with disabilities. We truly couldn't do this without you.
COVID-19
Kitsap County: Haselwood Auto Group Kellermeyer Bergensons Services (KBS) Safeway - N Callow Ave Washington Marine
Ticket to Work Updates
Building Resilience & Staying Strong
Simple steps you can take to help build your resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: Practice gratitude daily. (Think about what you're thankful for, keep a gratitude journal.) Find meaning in your day-to-day life. (Think about what matters to you, and what makes you feel like your life has purpose. Focus on that when things get hard.) Connect with your community. (Get to know your neighbors, reach out to your friends & family, take care of each other.) Practice kindness. (Be nice to others, even when it's hard or you're having a bad day.)
Skookum believes that all CES clients have right to:
Remote CARF Re-Accreditation Survey
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Skookum Mission Statement:
COVID-19 caused a lot of changes for everyone, and just one of those changes for Skookum was a delay and rescheduling of our CARF survey for re-accreditation. Initially due to occur on-site in September 2020, the survey was pushed back approximately 6 months. Currently, Skookum expects the re-accreditation survey to take place virtually (remotely) in April 2021.
CES is now on Facebook!
Follow us at @SkookumCES: https://www.facebook.com/SkookumCES
CES Client Rights
Be treated with respect and dignity Be free from any kind of neglect, humiliation, punishment, or abuse Be free from unfair treatment because of their race, color, origin, gender, religion, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law Have access to someone who can help them legally when they feel their rights have been violated, and have that person gather the facts and help resolve the issues Talk privately and confidentially about any concerns they may have Make a complaint and not have someone retaliate or "get even" with them Seek help or request information regarding self-help or support services that may be available, and receive services that won't put their job or services at risk Have privacy and confidentiality of their client records, which will only be released without their permission as permitted or required by law Obtain access to their own client records upon request Make choices and decisions about what kind of services they receive, who provides those services, and the level and type of support they receive Receive information in a format of their choice that's easy for them to understand Have quick access to information in order to make choices about their life Work in a respectful workplace