SKILLS TRAINING

Employment skills training services are organized formal training services that assist a person seeking employment to acquire the skills necessary for specific jobs or families of jobs.  MELC currently offers four skills training courses.  These courses are a combination of classroom work and an unpaid internship.  The classroom times and dates vary based on the instructor's schedule.  
 
General Office Clerk
This course prepares people for employment in entry-level administrative support positions in an office setting.  The classroom part of the training takes five weeks, meeting three times a week for two hour classes at the MELC building.  A three-week workplace simulation follows the course work and a five week internship begins after completion of the simulation. 

Computer 102
Individuals who wish to increase their computer skills can take the next level class.  The focus is to increase independent skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.  The course is four to six weeks in length with students meeting approximately three times per week for a total of nine hours per week.  The class is held at the MELC building.
Cost:  $462

Application Process 
Individuals interested in enrolling in any of the skills training course should complete an application which can be downloaded from the Mainstream Living website: mainstreamliving.org.
After receipt of a completed application a personal interview will be conducted with each applicant.  Applications should be sent to:
 

Tricia Crain, Mainstream Living
333 SW 9th Street, Suite J; Des Moines, Iowa 50309
243-8115 Ext. 304; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

JOB PLACEMENT

MELC employment specialists regularly contact local employers to learn about jobs that are available, and then they connect job seekers with these employment opportunities.  We provide job seekers with resources that help them conduct job searches, write resumes and practice their interviewing skills.  After placing someone in a job, we will follow up on a regular basis to find out if they are continuing to do well on the job, or if they need more training, on-site job coaching or additional services.

ENCLAVE OR GROUP EMPLOYMENT

Another form of community employment is group employment sites or enclaves where a number of individuals work under the ongoing supervision of a staff member.  An enclave can serve a variety of purposes for an employment program.  For some individuals, it is their best long-term employment option because it affords them the level of support that they need.  Other individuals use it as a stepping stone to an individual placement.  Pay at all enclave sites exceeds Iowa’s minimum wage.
 
Mainstream Living currently operates one enclave in Polk County at Iowa Medicaid Enterprises in Des Moines.  The Iowa Medicaid Enterprises site began in 2005 with 8 individuals working there on a daily basis.  The work there consists primarily of processing and collating materials. 

Mainstream Living operates two enclaves in Story County, one at the Sauer Danfoss manufacturing plant in Ames, another at the Hach Company, a packaging and distribution company also located in Ames.
 
The enclave at Sauer-Danfoss has been in operation for over 16 years and approximately 7 people work there on a daily basis.  Seven participants work at the Hach Company, which began as an enclave site for Mainstream in 2007. 
 

Contact Information
If interested in employment services, please contact:  Tricia Crain at (515) 243-8115 Ext. 304 or by e-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   
 

MELC is pleased to offer supported education services to individuals in the Polk County Health Services (PCHS) system.  Supported Education is an emerging best practice in the employment field.  Essentially, supported education is intended to help students with disabilities succeed in post-secondary education.  Success in supported education often leads to improved employment outcomes as postsecondary education opens up numerous job opportunities.

Supported education is similar to supported employment as the Education Specialist functions like a job coach.  The Education Specialist assists with enrollment, develops an education support plan, tracks the educational progress of the student throughout the course, and intervenes when additional supports are needed.  

With the support of PCHS and a partnership with DMACC MELC is doing a pilot project with supported education beginning in January 2009.  Through its Workforce Training Academy (WTA) DMACC offers a variety of short-term non-credit certificate courses taught through its Continuing Education Department.  These courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for employment in a variety of fields, including health care, human services and manufacturing.

What is the Cost?
The tuition for these courses is free provided the student is able to demonstrate that he/she has the ability to be successful in postsecondary education.  There is an hourly fee for the supports provided by the Educational Specialist. 

Application Process

• Case manager completes the Workforce Training Academy application which is available through Mainstream and send it to Laurie Dufoe, Education Specialist, Mainstream Living, 333 S.W. 9th Street, Suite J; Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
• Further questions can be directed to: Laurie Dufoe at (515) 402-5774 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION (Story County only)

MELC also serves individuals who are not seeking community employment but are receiving services intended to optimize their personal and social competency.  The activities in this program are determined by the needs of the individuals and include the following:

• Leisure and recreation activities
• Communication activities
• Cultural activities
• Volunteerism
• Educational and training activities
• Development of living skills
• Health and wellness promotion
  

The intent of these services is to enhance the interdependence of the participants, their self-concept, and their social adaptations. Opportunities for community integration are provided on a regular basis to assist the individuals to live successfully in the community.
 
Contact Information
If interested in Community Integration services in Story County, please contact Wanda Holm at 515 232-8405 Ext. 500 or by e-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it