Client Handbook 2008
Welcome
to Goodwill Industries of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
We hope the services you get from Goodwill will help you. This Handbook
will explain the services and programs of Goodwill Industries.
Goodwill Industries’
Mission: Goodwill changes lives by providing opportunities for people
to build independence.
Goodwill Industries’
Vision: Our
vision is to help build a stronger community by supporting people in
achieving greater independence.
Goodwill believes that work plays an important role in the ability of people to reach their life goals.
Our services will teach you
skills and help you find a job within our community. To get the most out of
our services, you need be active in your program and keep in touch with your
Goodwill staff person.
Goodwill Industries does not discriminate
against any person referred
or receiving services with regard to race, creed, sex, religion, color, age,
sexual orientation, disability, ethnic background, national origin, veteran
or marital status, or any other class protected by law.
All
Goodwill Employment Services staff
follow the Code of Ethics
and Values of Goodwill Industries and are trained in the field they
represent.
Goodwill Industries’ services are accredited by CARF
– The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission for: Community
Employment Services: Job Development, Job Site Training, Job Supports.
General Admission
Conditions
You must meet these general admission
conditions to enter Goodwill's services:
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At
least 16 years of age at the time of entry.
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Able
to care for your personal needs or have help in caring for your needs.
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Behavior is under control and you are not a danger to yourself or others.
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You
chose to work toward agreed on goals in your Individual Program Plan.
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Fee
sponsorship or PASS/IRWE at the time of admission.
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Records that state your disability and or disadvantaging conditions should
be given by your referral source.
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Must
have your own way to get to your meetings and/or job, by private means or
by public transportation.
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Your
disabling condition must be stable enough so that you can work. A
doctor’s release to work may be needed.
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Able
to benefit from using Goodwill services.
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Must
be able to take part in your program without breaking the law, such as
driving without a license, or using illegal drugs.
Client
Rights
-
As a
Goodwill client you will be treated with dignity and respect, afforded
freedom from abuse, financial or other exploitation, retaliation,
humiliation or neglect. All services will be used to meet your specific
needs. Goodwill does not allow you to be treated in a way that will
physically or emotionally hurt you.
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Services will be given to you no matter your age, race, color, religion,
creed, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, national
origin, ethnic background or veteran status, or any other class protected
by law.
-
All
your program information will be kept in a confidential file. You (or
your guardian) have the right to look at anything in your file that is
done by Goodwill staff. You can look at this file at any reasonable time
with an Employment Services staff person before making any decisions.
Goodwill respects your privacy; information (including personal health
information) will not be given to anyone who is not a part of your
program unless you (or your legal guardian, if applicable) write that it
is okay.
Please note: Other organizations or individuals possessing
legal authority for access to particular file information through written
client approval or court ordered subpoena may also access information.
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We want you to tell us
what you think about the services offered by Goodwill. You can talk to
your Employment Services staff person or put a note in the suggestion box
in the front lobby. From time to time we will ask you to fill out surveys
to let us know how we are doing.
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You
may ask for help from an outside person
(family
member, friend, other agency personnel, Indiana Protection & Advocacy
Services, legal representation, etc.) at any time during your
services. Your Employment Services staff person will help you find an
advocate if you want one. There may also be times when your Employment
Services staff person suggests an advocate to help you with issues outside
of Goodwill services and with investigations and resolutions of alleged
infringement of your personal or legal rights.
-
It is your choice to be in our services, and you have the
right to say no to our services. You may ask for help in finding
other programs if you feel that would be best for you. You can also
be involved in other programs while working with Goodwill.
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If you are ever unhappy with your services or a staff
member at Goodwill or if you feel your rights have been violated, you
should talk to any staff person right away. How to file a complaint
is explained in detail in your client handbook. If you need a copy
of the way to do this, ask any Employment Services staff person.
Complaints
If you ever
have a problem with your services at Goodwill, you should tell any
staff person right away. That staff person may help you write your
complaints and appeals, and give it to your Employment Services staff person
within seventy-two (72) hours after the cause for the complaint took place.
The Employment Services staff person will try to solve the problem and will
give you a written answer within three (3) working days. If you are not
happy with the solution, you can talk to the Employment Services Director
who must write a response within three (3) working days. If you are still
unhappy, you may talk to the President within five (5) days, who will give a
final decision in writing within five (5) days.
If you are
unhappy with the decision of the President, contact your referring
counselor.
You may
bring an advocate or request help in getting an advocate at any time.
Filing a
complaint will not be held against you or prevent you from receiving
services.
General Policies
-
The
Goodwill offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Goodwill offices are closed on the following holidays:
New Years
Day
Memorial
Day
Fourth of
July
Labor Day
Veterans
Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday
after Thanksgiving
Last
Working Day before Christmas
Christmas
Day
-
Smoking is not allowed inside any Goodwill facility.
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Having a weapon on Goodwill property is not allowed and will result with
you being immediately exited from services.
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Having, using or selling of alcohol or illegal drugs in the workplace is
not allowed and will result with you being immediately exited from
services.
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Goodwill will not dispense any medication to you.
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Goodwill will not be your payee or handle any money for you.
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WAITING
LISTS: Should the need for a waiting list develop, the procedure for
entry on the list and acceptance into services will be on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Service Policies
-
You
will have an Employment Services staff person assigned to you while in
services at Goodwill. Your staff person will help you meet your goals and
arrange the services that you need.
-
There
are no costs to you for using our services. Your fees are paid by your
referring agency. If you lose fee sponsorship after starting your
program, we will try to keep you in services without interruption. This
will depend on individual need and current budget limits.
-
You
will have a written Individual Program Plan while you are at Goodwill.
This plan will be based on your input and in an accessible format of your
choice. You may have a family member, or
any other person you want, involved in helping you with your plan.
-
Your Employment Services staff person will work with you to plan your
service goals for success. Your plan, and the progress on your goals, will
be discussed with you on a regular basis. The plan may be changed at any
time if all parties are in agreement.
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You may be placed in an interrupt status, during which all direct Goodwill
services to you will stop. You, your referring counselor, or your
Employment Service staff person can ask for you to be put on interrupt
status. You can be placed on interrupt status for: not participating in
services, not staying in contact with Goodwill, or a medical or mental
condition which keeps you from participating. Your interrupt status is
meant to last for a short time.
-
If you are not working on your program goals or participating in services
or you are unable to participate due to health reasons you may be exited
from services. If your situation changes and you feel you could benefit
from a Goodwill program you may reapply and be considered for re-entry
into services.
-
All
critical incidents (violent, aggressive or other unsafe behaviors, alleged
cases of abuse or neglect, weapons, etc.) will be reported to the
Employment Services Director. The incident will be looked into within 48
hours.
Accessibility Policy
It is the policy of Goodwill Industries to
have our workplace free of barriers to employment and to provide reasonable
accommodations and supports to promote equal opportunity for participation
by persons with disabilities.
The purpose of this policy is to identify and
remove architectural, attitudinal, transportation, employment,
communication, financial and environmental barriers.
Please tell your Employment Services Staff
person if you need any accommodations.
Expectations
While a client of Goodwill you are expected
to:
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Attend all
scheduled meetings on time. You are more likely to reach your goals if
you show up for your meetings.
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Call your
Employment Services staff person and let them know if you will be late or
need to reschedule your meeting.
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Work on
tasks your Employment Services staff person asks you to do.
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Follow the rules of the program and/or program site.
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Show
respect and consideration for the rights of others.
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Work on
the goals that are written in your Individual Program Plan.
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Tell
your Employment Services staff person when you have problems with your job
or outside of your job that may affect your work or Goodwill program.
While a client you can expect Goodwill to:
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Help
you set goals and ways to achieve these goals.
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Explain
how you are doing on your goals.
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Provide
support and encouragement.
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Treat you with dignity and respect.
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Respect your legal rights and privacy.
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Protect the confidentiality of whatever information you share.
Health and Safety
Goodwill has many safety plans in place to
protect you. If there is an emergency your assigned Employment Services
staff person will stay with you and help you in following all safety plans.
You will need to cooperate.
Available
Programs
Community Based Evaluation
Community
Based Evaluation (CBE) is used to see if you would like a certain type of
job. This is done by using real job situations in the community to see
if you are able to work in the community and what types of jobs you might
like.
Supported Employment
Supported
Employment helps persons with severe disabilities that need ongoing support.
This program will help you choose, get, and keep a paid job that fits your
interests, needs, and abilities. This program focuses on working in
the community.
The parts of
Supported Employment are:
Work evaluation
Pre-employment counseling
Job development and placement
Job maintenance
Job
Placement
Job
placement helps you prepare for, find, and keep a job. This program
will also include follow-up and post job services. An Employment
Services staff person will look at the work, social, psychological, and
medical needs, along with your abilities and interests.
The parts of
Job Placement are:
Job seeking skills
Job development
Job placement
Follow-Along/Post Employment
Job
Coaching
Job coaching helps you learn to
perform job tasks to the employer’s expectations and learn the necessary
social skills to be accepted as a worker at the job site.
The parts of Job Coaching are:
Learning the job
duties
Understanding the
rules of work
Employment
counseling
Employment advocacy
Goodwill Office
Locations
Goodwill
Corporate Office
1516
Magnavox Way
Fort Wayne
IN 46804
Phone:
(260) 478-7617
Fax: (260)
436-3800
TDD: (260)
478-7617
Toll-Free
Number: 1-800-666-2716
www.fwgoodwill.org
Auburn
Goodwill Store Office
430 North
Grandstaff Drive
Auburn IN
46706
Phone:
(260) 572-0042
Fax: (260)
572-0045
Columbia
City Goodwill Store Office
645 North
Countryside Drive
Columbia
City IN 46725
Phone:
(260) 244-4599
Fax: (260)
244-5523
Huntington
Goodwill Store Office
1966 North
Jefferson Street
Huntington
IN 46750
Phone:
(260) 355-0919
Fax: (260)
355-0917
Supporting
Organizations
