Garten exists to support people with disabilities in their effort to contribute to the community through employment, career and retirement opportunities.
Services
Learning~Working~Growing
Learning ~ Working ~ Growing is a unique summer employment program offered by Garten Services, Inc. that focuses on youth with disabilities age 16 to 21. In this one-of-a-kind program, Garten provides first-time paid work experience that helps youth transition into the adult world-of-work.
Garten launched Learning ~ Working ~ Growing as a pilot in Summer 2004. The program was designed to build an effective bridge to self-sufficiency in adulthood—which often involves an abrupt transition from federally mandated school services for youth to the wait-listed adult world of social services.
In an effort to eliminate potential barriers, Garten opted to pay all costs of the program:
* all youth wages (minimum wage)
* workers comp insurance costs
* all employer costs (state/fed. taxes, FICA, SSI)
* wages for Garten-trainedjob coaches
* all other related program costs
Employers who provide job openings for youth with disabilities pay nothing. They simply provide a half-time position for six weeks during the summer. Garten Services literally handles all the rest.
That first year (2004), Learning ~ Working ~ Growing served 25 youth in the Salem-Keizer School District 24J. In 2008—the program’s 5th year—45 youth will enjoy first-time paid job experience in Salem, Keizer, Silverton, Woodburn, Monmouth and Dallas. The program has become a successful cooperative effort between Garten Services, the public school districts in the communities served, local government, community business owners, individuals with disabilities and their families.
For more information, contact:
Lori Patterson
Program Services Manager
Garten South
(503) 581-4472, ext. 3905
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Benefits of this unique program:
• Youth participants gain skills that enhance their future employability.
• Youth maintain academic momentum from year to year.
• School district staff learn more about vocational training needs of youth with disabilities prior to graduation.
• Local businesses learn what people with disabilities can do.
• The community learns that people with disabilities can be valuable employees.
• Stress is reduced for families of youth by providing structured summer activities for their teens.
• Diversity in the community is enhanced.
This unique program is funded 100% by donations and grants.
To donate, contact:
Carolyn Bolton
Resource Development Manager
Garten Services, Inc.
PO Box 7310
Salem, OR 97303-0088
(503) 581-4472, ext. 3117
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