case manager

employment coordinator

career counselor

employment specialist

developer

The Fedcap Group

As a non - profit organization; FEDCAP's primary function is to serve  the community and assist those persons that are unable to acquire adequate employment due to their physical/mental challenges.

Clients arrive into our offices located in Jamaica, Queens at 8:30 a.m.  Typically, when clients come into our offices it's for various circumstances; however, the sole purpose for participating in the program is to bestow the knowledge of "self - efficiency".  This is achieved through a myriad of services offered by FEDCAP which include workshops that teach fiscal responsibility, interview skills,  résumé creation/critiquing, and appropriate workplace etiquette.  Furthermore, clients are assigned to "WEP" sites; where they are able to put those newly acquired skills to the test.  

WEP (Work Experience Program) is one of several sub - programs offered at FEDCAP.  As previously mentioned, it's assisting the client to become acclimated to a work environment that can be described as a "simulation" due to the fact that they are not paid in the traditional sense for providing auxiliary services to the various WEP sites.  Clients' compensation comes in the form of receiving support from New York City's HRA program.  

A WEP orientation is conducted where the parameters of the program are illustrated to explain what is required and expected of the participants.  After that, clients have a consultation with their assigned "WEP Specialist", who provides a weekly, Monday - Friday schedule that breaks down the client's participation for the week.  Once the schedule is generated and the client is amicable with the terms, the client then signs off on the document and begins their weekly itinerary the proceeding day. 

Satisfaction is felt when participants are employed and express that jubilant emotion of achievement.  Despite numerous obstacles, they were able to persevere and earn adequate employment.  Now, while clients are in the WEP aspect of FEDCAP's VRS (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) program, they have the avenue to work with our Job Developers, who possess all the external company accounts to send prospective job - seekers on interviews with various business entities.

Difficulty presents itself whenever you have a individual who is resistant of the regulations correlated to the program.  Fortunately, there are penalty contingencies in place to reprimand any unruly clients.  But, to meet opposition with opposition always ends in a negative results.  So to avoid any further conflict, we at FEDCAP, try to reinforce positive outcomes with incentives.  Therefore, clients who are able to maintain consistent employment or continue to consistently participate in the program receive.  

While still presently at FEDCAP; the one aspect of the job I can honestly say that has become cemented into my repertoire is "resilience".  In order to achieve sucess one must have the ability to continue on the progressive track despite obstacles obstructing that path.

Meet with families receiving TANF benefits for workforce development. Submit support requests to DHHS to help families engage in education and career goals. 
Build strong professional relationships with Maines most vulnerable families.
Management is hit or miss at all different offices. 
Leadership has poor communication and strong pushes for internal activities. Leadership acknowledges burnout but offers little to no support; Any support offered requires use of PTO or no pay.
Lack of overall morale for staff.
Lack of staff appreciation. 
High staff turnover rates. 
Poor(expensive) benefits that have very little "in-network" providers locally. 
Expectations and goals are always changing creating confusion and frustration for staff and participants.
Minimal paid holidays (does not match DHHS holiday schedule.)
No bonus opportunities.
Once a year pay increase, max of 6% dependant on yearly review. 
No cost of living wage increases. 

Typical duties included but aren't limited to:
Respond to emails and calls within 2 business days. Meet with up to 10 one or two parent cases per day. Communicate with DHHS representatives to coordinate work supports. Build relationships with community partners for volunteer and internship opportunities. Submit support requests in a timely manner to avoid additional stress on participants. 
Build bonds with team to promote a healthy workplace. Stay on top of local employment opportunities and local education options for Hi-Set/ESL. Navigate housing issues. Communicate with community partners to be able provide accurate resources for participants. Learn DHHS approved education paths and what state colleges offer for programs to not mislead participants with their career goals. Teamwork. Complete signed career plan agreements every six months for every participant unless goals change, then its more frequently. Inspire participants to meet their goals. Be innovative, empathetic and caring. Caseload of 60-80+ participants. 

Most enjoyable aspect is helping Maine families become successful in their aim for financial stability. 

What can I say great people around me, fast pace, fun and got the opportunity of a life time to do a job I've never done.  I want to thank all of my Job Seeker for teaching me how to work with people who have limitations. It's been a wonderful 3 years of success, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity because I have never done this kind of work. I have always done Attitudinal Training and have been very successful. Again I sincerely thank you all, blessing to all my beautiful People always.

I enjoy help individuals get out of their own way, and as a work simulated environment I deal with all the issues that may arise at the work place. Everything from: Professional working attire, Perception in the work place, to creating your own resume, and articulating your resume to others. I also teach the clients about Sexual Harassment at the work place and the 3 tiers of Domestic Violence: Isolation, Domination, and control.

I do this in front of the classroom and the reason why it’s done in front of the class is so that the individuals can get feedback from their colleagues as well as the Trainers and the interaction makes it fun. Everything from the importance of first impression (from the perceiver point of view); how we dress, smile, articulate ourselves, and our Resume is very important along with the art of handshaking.

In, my 17 years of experience the most difficult part has been getting individuals to believe in a system that they have already lost hope in, or no longer want to take a chance.  I instill in our Client that the motivation to bring about change has to come from within. Anyone can change, and I am living proof, as a motivator I meet our clients where they are at. The very first thing I establish in our classroom is that we are not better than them; the only difference between us is that we have a job, which stands for “just over broke”. I hope to not just help, our clients with obtaining a job, but help them get on the right track towards a career because a career is something that you look forward to; it’s what you love to do.

The manager of our region made the workers feel like the company was doing them a favor by even hiring them at the rate they were paying (her words). She demonstrated that she really did not care too much about my struggles as a worker when placed in a location that was a 3 hour travel time daily when I could have been traveling about an hour each day at a closer location, even after she promised when hiring me that I would not be sent to that area; but I also had the addition of child care issues due to the location sent for over 6 months. There was no compassion shown. The manager at the site was a very quiet and easily influenced individual who was not really respected by those under her supervision as she did not seem to understand how to do many things w/in the facility and could not be counted on or looked to for leadership role. 

Even though you have worked and earned your sick days, personal days and vacation days; it was a struggle to be able to take them when you wanted or needed to. I mean come on, who can predict when you will become sick? But certain individuals that were hang out buddies with management were allowed to take their vacation at the exact same time together but it was made difficult for me to even take a trip to bury my father in another country. I had a family crisis and ended up having to quit---company, management did not make an effort to assist in any way; no job security or FMLA offered. At the end of the day, a job is a job whether company and those w/in it are good or not; you still have bills to pay, so you keep your head down and work. That is what I did for over a year. I would not recommend any one work for this company and if you do get in, don't expect much and don't stay for long.

I am honestly skeptical of anyone who is giving this company,  at least when it was Easter Seals – five stars.  I worked there for 2 1/2 years and I never talk to anybody who is very satisfied with their job. If you are a clinician do not work for this place.  You will not only be physically abused by the students  but then mentally  abused by administrative staff. Administrative staff have absolutely no respect or consideration for your knowledge in your own personal discipline.   Any suggestions, comments, concerns  voiced at meetings ( which you will have a minimum of  three days a week after school)  is  met with blatant disregard  and nothing is ever followed through. The school is a babysitter for these children. I don't think that administrative staff don't care about the students they are doing the best they can  it is very difficult physically abusive and dangerous school to work at.   it's a school filed with babysitters.   There is absolutely no learning  that takes place there,  and definitely no real life skill learning. the teachers assistance and teachers are burned out, rude, and sit around and talk all day    
IF YOU ARE AN OT, PT, SLP, SCHOOl PSY, OR BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST DO NOT WORK HERE.

Management does not care about your feelings. What they want is the only thing that matters, and you will be treated with disrespect by one person in higher management who thinks she/he know how to do everyone's job better then them. . You will be lied to when you apply. I was told i would only be on call once a month. You will have to be on call 24/7 all week and every other weekend. I was told when I left, that all other staff who work on call can work other jobs and deal with problems hours or days later. Nurses are expected to answer within 30 minutes. Be expected to bring home about 20 hours of work per week due to all the expected work you will have to do. They are so behind in nursing care and assessments that you will have to fix. Most of the houses have state deficiencies, with most of them having to do with management. I had 2 weeks of general training that had nothing to do with nursing. My nursing training consisted of 3 days following a nurse. I was then told to go to the house, and figure out what I'm supposed to do. Management are not nurses, so you have no one to go to for help. They don't even know what paperwork you will have to do. 98% or more of staff do not like one of the highest management due to how she/he treats people. This is a horrible job. Most nurses last about 6 months before they leave. It is a mess

A typical week at the company would consist of conducting outreach events, calling the people recruited at the outreach events. You also had to make sure to keep your clients engaged, constantly check up on them, make sure they brought their documents and case management. The program I worked in was brand new and just starting up. I did not mind all the work I did because I absolutely love working with the population I worked with and I love working in social services but the salary is not up to par with the amount of work you had to do. Many people in this company are underpaid, very underpaid. I was also doing case manager and office assistant duties apart from the duties that come with the position. I do believe that the company can definitely improve in terms of salary and in terms of organization with their new programs. It is a great company overall and I strongly believe with their mission but they do have to improve their salaries in order to keep more employees; their is a high turnover rate. I also had great people as co-workers and as part of management, I learned a lot in my short time there and made a lot of connections. Overall, this job is a lot of outreach and networking, at least my position was. The hardest part of the job was keeping the clients engaged, some of them would hang up on you, not show up, or sign up to the program and then never come back.

I was extremely encouraged to become a part of the FedCap team, which is now understandably because they cannot keep their employees. I worked there for several months and was considered a veteran there after a few short months because of their high turnover rate.
The comfort in the this job relies on having consistent staff and positive management, where neither of these could become a reality. It completely fell upon the administrative assistant to explain to participants when their case workers (employment specialists) left which was too common and never communicated. This understandably leaves the program participants confused as to why nobody else has reached out to them. Sometimes participants are not even assigned to new workers after an employment specialist quitting or being terminated.
The management refused to answer most management phone calls, telling the administrative assist to handle them and, "be strong".
The company never had appropriate policies or procedures while claiming every site is different, leaving different managers and supervisors wanting things differently.
I witnessed many great staff fired by management after discussing things that didn't feel right, while nonperforming staff maintained their jobs.

The management is poor which leads to poor office morale and organization.  The workplace culture is the poorest that I have seen in all the years that I have worked anywhere in the Social Services field.  The typical day is unorganized, chaotic, and the hardest part is that you do not know when you will be reprimanded  by a supervisor for something wrong even though they have not bothered to get all  the information yet. This happens in front of others.  What I learned is that when I was hired for this job I was promised one thing and it turned out to be something entirely different.  The first clue should have been when I had to keep calling for a copy of my acceptance letter and the day I went for orientation I had no access to the video presentation and no paperwork to follow along.  Also I sat all day in a closed room all alone.  I also decided no more misrepresentations or disrespect. The most enjoyable part I would have to say would be the day I made up my mind to walk out the door and take care of myself and not let this job, management or the company take my self respect and I then I could feel good about myself again.

A typical day at work will consist of a bombardment of frustrated "Customers".  You basically will be doing Customer Service during class periods.  Your job description will be fulfilled only during your break time, due to classrooms with too many Customers that were not prepared for the back-to-work program.

Staff training will be virtually non-existent along with the leadership.  Supervision will be in office about 50% of the time, yet you will be expected to comply with their informal protocols without ever being shown the ropes.  Your first discrepancy will be e-mailed to your Supervisor and CC'd to the Director, all behind your back.  You'll find out about it through one of your colleagues that had no business even knowing this information.  Expect to deal with some un-professional, underhanded, and conniving people.  

I learned that you should always trust your gut feeling about a place, no matter how open minded you are trying to be.  Before you even check in on your first day, everybody will know about you.  If you have education, experience, and conduct yourself with dignity; watch your back!

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