A key element to finding our clients meaningful work that fits their skills and abilities is the Community-Based Work Assessment (CBWA). Performed early in our partnership to assess and evaluate what success looks like for our goals going forward, this experience is highly valuable. Evaluating a client’s unique needs and abilities directly on a job site is the most accurate way to ensure we find a good fit in a long-term job placement. The CBWA also helps us determine the level of support a client will need in competitive employment and if they might benefit from continued training or additionally supportive employment services.

Before a CBWA

The Pacific Opportunities team and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor first hold a referral meeting with the client to discuss and define the goals of the CBWA. We outline what information we need to gather and align the client’s interests with an appropriate work site.

During a CBWA

In most cases, clients attend a two-week assessment at a reputable local business in a competitive employment site (i.e., a role offering comparable pay and expectations for all types of applicants). Over our years in operation, Pacific Opportunities has built a number of mutually beneficial relationships with these partners to provide realistic work environments.

A Job Coach supports the client on site, providing relevant training throughout and observing the client in the work environment. We have two key goals during this stage:

1. Targeting a good career match — in order to identify or create a community job where the client can truly thrive, we look closely at abilities, needs and challenges.
2. Fostering community awareness — by showcasing the dedication and hard work of our clients, we’re able to build greater inclusion in the local workforce, introducing both businesses and customers to the talents of job seekers who face employment barriers. This benefits everyone in the community in the long run; and we know it has a positive impact on our clients in their roles as well.

After a CBWA

Our Job Coaches complete a detailed evaluation and create a structured plan alongside the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor outlining next steps in the job placement process. We then move forward according to our plan to find good-fit employment opportunities for our clients, knowing how they work in real-life situations. Using this real assessment data helps us place clients into roles they are well-suited for and will enjoy. Since our goal is long-term employment, taking our time to gather information at the beginning of our process is important.

Interested in learning more about our services? Read more here. Considering joining the team and helping clients find meaningful work? Look at our Career opportunities here!

Job Coaches at Pacific Opportunities are key employees who provide helpful vocational counseling and job coaching to clients, helping them retain good-fit employment where they can thrive, learn and experience the value of participating in the local job market. Job Coaches spend a lot of their time working and networking with local businesses and companies to help develop and maintain valuable career opportunities for clients who face barriers to employment. Most Job Coaches at Pacific Opportunities have a strong background in working closely with or managing others and deeply enjoy supporting individuals in their employment journeys.

“My favorite client success stories are always when I see them trying something new,” says Amber, a Senior Job Coach at Pacific Opportunities. “It’s great to see them gain confidence in doing tasks they might not have had an opportunity to try before.”

Amber spends the majority of her working hours on-site supporting clients directly in their roles, coaching them and ensuring they have essential skills not just for their day-to-day job duties but also for becoming informed and empowered employees, like understanding schedules, reading pay stubs and establishing good manager relations. She also performs routine check-ins and monitors how clients are adjusting and thriving in their workplaces.

Amber spent two decades working in retail before switching careers to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their workplace journeys. “My retail experience has been really helpful. Day to day, it’s pretty similar, managing and supporting people on the job.” Her background has also been useful in other ways, since the retail sector is one of the top three fields that Pacific Opportunities clients are placed in. That cross-industry familiarity gives Amber a knowledge of the jobsite’s landscape and requirements.

The most challenging part of being a Job Coach? Finding the right style of communication for each client and the role they’re in. “But that’s just part of the job,” she says. While communication skills are an important part of all careers, Amber and her fellow Job Coaches dedicate a lot of their focus to honing them; finding the best way to make sure clients are able to achieve their goals by asking them the right questions and watching and listening thoughtfully.

Interested in learning more about the work we do at Pacific Opportunities? Read more about our services here, or explore career opportunities here.

We utilize methodology from a variety of resources to help us successfully place and support our clients in their employment journeys. One important model was developed by the IPS Employment Center, a research organization that develops and provides training services to support agencies with missions like ours. Their Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model is based on eight principles, all of which serve our clients in their goals of independence and inclusion in the mainstream workforce.

Competitive Employment

We seek placements in roles that are not exclusively built for IDD individuals. These are jobs that fulfill necessary duties within a team or company and pay similarly to other workers with comparable duties.

Strategic Job Development

Our team works systematically and strategically with our database of complementary employer contacts and selects good-fit opportunities based on client preferences.

Rapid Process

While we do provide assessments, training and support for our clients to help put them in the ideal position to be selected for a role, we move quickly in our job search and placement phase. Our process has been fine-tuned to be as efficient and successful for our clients as possible.

Expanded Services

We work exclusively to find and support long-term employment opportunities for our clients, but we know that there is value in the larger support team surrounding individuals who face barriers to employment. We provide regular check-ins and ongoing support for those who need it during the employment and maintenance phases of our plan.

Building Employee Education

Our team doesn’t just assist in placing clients in jobs, we also ensure they are educated and able to unpack the other aspects of being a worker, from reading pay stubs, planning for schedules and shift timings and understanding other pay and benefit details.

Inclusivity

We look at what possibilities clients have, not their limitations. This means working with each individual’s abilities and goals to offer good, sustainable options and solutions for on-the-job opportunities.

Maintenance and Check-Ins

While every client and placement is different, our focus on long-term career stability means we provide regular check-ins with the client on-site at work to help build enduring workplace confidence and to ensure the job is still a good fit throughout the whole process.

Client Choice

Our placement options are carefully designed for success, and are always based on client choice. As job seekers, those preferences are always number one in priority. Our work is in service to their on-going career journey!

Read more about our process and our services here. Or, reach out to us here with a specific question.

At Pacific Opportunities, we specialize in connecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to sustainable, long-term employment. Empowering individuals who face systemic and societal barriers to employment is at the core of our mission. With a proven track record of career placement and retention, our time-tested methodology benefits both the dedicated clients we serve and the inclusive employers who hire them.

Our comprehensive approach is structured into three phases:

1. Pre-Employment: Building the Foundation
To ensure a successful partnership, we begin with thorough, individualized assessments. This may include career exploration or a Community-Based Work Assessment (CBWA) conducted in collaboration with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation. These assessments allow us to align our strategy with our clients’ career goals, skills and long-term aspirations. From there, we actively enhance career readiness by assisting with résumé building, conducting mock interviews and guiding clients through the administrative steps of the job search.

2. Supported Employment: Making the Connection
During this phase, we leverage our extensive network of local business partners across diverse industries, including retail, customer service, hospitality and grocery. Using insights from the pre-employment phase, we strategically match clients with roles that complement their unique abilities and preferences. Once placement is achieved, our team provides hands-on guidance and on-the-job support. This ensures each client feels confident and secure in their new role.

3. Supported Employment Maintenance: Ensuring Long-Term Success
While long-term maintenance is tailored to each individual, this phase is built on a structured framework of routine check-ins and support evaluations. This ensures clients fully understand daily workplace expectations and that the relationship remains mutually beneficial for both employee and employer. While some clients transition quickly to complete independence, others benefit from an extended phase-out period or ongoing support. Ultimately, our overarching goal remains the same: guiding clients toward financial and professional independence through meaningful, long-term employment.

Interested in learning more about how we partner with clients at Pacific Opportunities? Explore our comprehensive services here!