Customized Employment & Microenterprise Development

FACT is now vendored* to provide Customized Employment and Microenterprise Development.

These services provide a flexible blend of strategies and supports designed to increase employment options for job seekers with complex needs. The job seeker drives the process. The customized employment or micro-enterprise development process begins with an exploration phase (Discovery) which lays the foundation for employment planning. Customized employment results in a job that is created or negotiated to meet the individual needs of the job seeker matched with specific employer needs. Micro-enterprise is profitable self-employment that is determined by a job seeker's talents matched with an unmet need. Benefits planning is an integral service offered to ensure use of work incentives for job seekers receiving SSI and/or SSDI.

Commonly Asked Questions

Discovery

What is Discovery?
Discovery is a process we use to "discover" each individual's strengths, talents, gifts, skills, interests, abilities and needs.
What is the Discovery Process?
The Discovery Process relies on a team approach and includes the job seeker, FACT staff and each job seeker's circle of support (parents, spouse, care taker, etc.). Discovery occurs in natural environments including the person's home and community. The team works together to obtain information related to but not limited to the following:
  • When is the job seeker at his/her best
  • When is she/he at her/his worst?
  • When and where does he/she need the most support?
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • What are the job seeker's strengths, interests, contributions, talents and skills?
  • What works and doesn't work?
  • What are her/his interests and hobbies?
  • What would be the ideal conditions of employment?
How long does the Discovery Process take?
The average is 30 hours over a two to three month period of time but may take from 10 to 50 hours.
What happens after Discovery?
The Discovery information is used to look at possible Business or Wage Job ideas that match each job seeker's interests, talents and skills. A job seeker profile is created that determines vocational themes. The vocational themes are then utilized to:
  • Create a Job Development Plan for Wage Employment or Micro-Enterprise (self-employment)
  • Design a Personal Portfolio or Resume
  • Create a Job Seeker's Relationship/Networking Map
  • Develop a list of Potential Employers (for wage employment) or Products & Services for a Small Business

Self-Employment/Micro-Enterprise

What is a Self-Employment or Micro-Enterprise?
A microenterprise is a small business with five or fewer employees, small enough to require initial capital of $35,000 or less. It is a business that is self-owned and operated by the business owner (with support if needed).
What if a person doesn't know anything about owning and operating their own business?
FACT will work with each individual for at least six months to help get the business get started. Before starting a business FACT will provide assistance with the following:
  • Understanding business basics
  • Clarifying business ideas
  • Making sure the business ideas are something people will pay money for
  • Ensure that the business idea is something each individual will enjoy
  • Write a plan for the business
  • Analyze how much it will cost to run the business, and where the money will come from
  • Think about who will help run the business
  • Plan how the business will affect benefits like SSI
What if the business owner still needs help/support after six months?
FACT will continue to support the business owner as long as needed and will help the business owner understand and utilize other resources as well.

Customized/Wage Employment

What is Customized/Wage Employment?
Customized/Wage Employments means that an individual works for the prevailing wage for a business in the community.
The job that the worker performs is negotiated with the employer to meet the specific talents, skills and needs of the individual while, at the same time, meeting (a) need(s) of a specific business.
What if the worker needs assistance/training to get to and from the job and to actually do the job?
A FACT Job Coach will support/assist each individual to learn bus routes or map out driving directions or bicycle routes, etc. and teach him/her to follow the route until the person is comfortable.
A FACT Job Coach will teach the individual worker how to do his/her job and spend a lot of time with the person during the first two weeks of employment. Gradually, the Job Coach will "fade" his/her time until the worker is able to work independently. The FACT Job Coach will maintain in-person contact with the worker for as long as needed to ensure successful employment retention.

*Westside Regional Center Vendor # PW5871

Find out more about Customized Employment & Microenterprise Development (310) 475-9620