Employment Services

Our House, Inc. Employment Services has been assisting individuals throughout Union, Morris, Essex, and Somerset Counties since 1988. Our program serves over 150 individuals annually, assisting them in finding competitive employment. The goal of Our House, Inc. Employment Services is to provide quality supported employment services that facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the work force. Our belief is that people should be doing "real" work for "real" pay. This allows people with disabilities to be full contributing members of their community.

The individuals we support are at the center of our services. We offer them career counseling, assistance with their job search, intensive on-the-job training, and follow along support to maintain their jobs. Our supported employees work for over 80 employers in a variety of capacities. Some companies include the Elizabeth Municipal Court, Drew University, Kings Supermarket, The Connection for Women & Families, Pitney Bowes, Aramark, and the Murray Hill Inn.

Our supported employees are offered job sampling as a career exploration tool. Job sampling allows individuals to explore careers with no risk to either them or the employer. It also gives Employment Specialists the opportunity to assess job skills. In some cases, job sampling can be used to enhance the interview process.

In addition to working with adults, Our House, Inc. Employment Services also works with transitioning high school students, assisting them with job skills training that will help them secure a job while they are in high school. Students are taught about their roles and responsibilities as employees. Each year, the demand for vocational services increases at the high school level. Through a positive work experience, the student and their family develop the expectation of a career.

Our House, Inc. Employment Services has received state and national acclaim for its innovative approaches. We were one of the first agencies to establish a unique business/public sector/social service partnership for hiring and training people with more severe disabilities. We were awarded "Exemplary Service" status from the PEER Regional Network, a National "One Thousand Points of Light" nomination by the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities, and recognition from Virginia Commonwealth University in its national survey of long-term support for Supported Employment. Our House, Inc. Employment Services has been accredited by CARF for the following services: Employment Transition Services and Community Employment Services - Job Development, Job Supports, and Job-Site Training.