CARES of Washington Helps Others Land Good Jobs

Did you know that for 25 years, International Association of Machinists (IAM) members have been assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to find and keep good jobs? CARES of Washington stands for Center for Administering Rehabilitation and Employment Services. This organization was formally known as IAM CARES and began with a grant that helped displaced workers from Boeing in the early 1980’s.  As IAM CARES grew to a multi-state organization, the original Puget Sound branch remained a leader with some of the strongest, most diverse programs. 

"Within months of the closing of our national headquarters, CARES of Washington had the 501(c)3 status needed to become a local nonprofit. Thanks to the high level of confidence that our funders place in CARES staff, this process was completed in May 2003 without missing a day of service to participants ," says Mary Shaffstall, an Employment Specialist of the King County CARES.

CARES’ goal is to bring good employees to the attention of good employers.  While CARES primarily serves people with disabilities, they have assisted people with other barriers to employment such as dislocated Boeing workers and, currently, low-income adults. In 2002, through the National Reserve Grant, CARES employed peer-workers who assisted laid-off Boeing workers to transition into training and/or employment. CARES’ staffs are members of the IAM union, Local F. District 751 is currently negotiating a new contract for these members and is hoping to have an offer to vote on in mid-May.

CARES offers several programs including:

• Workforce Investment Act, or WIA, is funded by a federal grant and assists adults to identify, prepare for, achieve and maintain their employment goals. 

• Advancement Project, which began this past January, assists adults who are employed to meet financial self-sufficiency. Participants learn about financial and training resources which will help them achieve self-sufficiency. Services are provided in partnership with WA State DSHS. 

• Supported Employment Programs, or SEP, are offered in all three counties that CARES serves.  This program is separated into 2 branches: Independent Employment, which assists adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their employment goals through job readiness skills training, job development and long-term job retention services and Community Access, which assists adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their community integration and pre-vocational goals through development of volunteer work sites and long-term follow along services.  

• School to Work is a program assisting youths in their last year of school participation to develop realistic vocational goals through consultation and assessment, to secure and maintain employment and support creation and implementation plans for long-term employment support.

• CARES is also a Fee-for-Service Vendor, providing services in conjunction with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, (DVR).  We provide assessment, job readiness skills training, job development, job placement and retention services for adults and youths with disabilities.

Galen is a great example of a person who has been with CARES for many years now, and who was volunteering at Peggy’s Fine Bakery in Tacoma, WA.  He earned a position and and is now being paid to work at Peggy’s.  He loves his job because the people are so supportive and they sometimes give him free carrot cake. His co-workers look forward to seeing Galen each week and enjoy watching the progress he makes. They genuinely care for Galen and appreciate all the work he does.

Another woman, who is a 36-year-old single mother, began working with CARES when she had nearly completed a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. She was frustrated with the job search process as she had been applying for jobs but had not been on an interview, let alone offered a job. We talked about exploring the option of working in a garden shop in a position where she could assist customers with developing and implementing their landscape/garden projects.  Within weeks she had been interviewed by two stores and had been offered two jobs.  She was very excited at having the opportunity to utilize the skills and abilities she developed in college to help customers design and create beautiful landscaping and gardens for their homes.  She has been at Home Depot for over 11 months and continues to work closely with homeowners and professionals seeking her assistance with landscaping and gardening projects.

Working for CARES of Washington is a rewarding experience.  A company of only 20 people serves King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties with the headquarters based in Seattle.  "I work for CARES because it gives me a chance to help improve the livelihood of those I serve.  I work alongside clients, caregivers, parents, DSHS/DVR and other vendors to find employment and related solutions that benefit all, making the community stronger, more connected, diverse and a better place for everyone," says Jeff Stilling of the Seattle office.

"I love to see the smile on a client’s face when he/she has mastered a new job skill, or received their first pay check.  It is so rewarding to see that happiness, and that I was able to help them achieve their goals," says Heather Simmons who works in the Tacoma/ Pierce Co. area. 

Anne Jordan, from the Bremerton office, said this of her experience in working at CARES:  "My reason for working at Cares is the challenge of not only finding a position that meets my client’s experience, but a company that will support them in all areas.  Best of all is to see them succeed in showing others ‘I can do it, so can you’."

CARES’ goals for the future are centered on capacity building through becoming more a part of the community.  CARES is approaching this in two ways.  One is to diversify the funding base. In the past, as part of a national organization, they relied completely on federal, state and county program funding.  Now as a local nonprofit, they need to find other funding resources and work together with local foundations and service groups to fulfill shared goals. 

The second is to get the word out to employers and community leaders that their services not only helps individuals but also helps communities and business grow. To do this they will be trying to meet with employers and community organizations to tell them our story and begin working together.

Now you may be asking "How can I help?"  If you are a member of a community group that would let them give a presentation on CARES, or you are an employer and know of job openings, give them a call.

 If you want to make a donation to help support the work they do, please contact the Executive Director, Lars Nowack, at (206) 938-1253 or 1 866-773-8800.

The following are a list of names of the program managers for the county offices:

King County:

Gary Banis       (206) 938-1253

Kitsap County:

Kathy Money      (360) 377-1502

Pierce County:

Doug Stauffer    (253) 272- 9736