Employment Connections provides individuals with opportunities for learning employment skills and support in obtaining and securing positive employment options. The services are provided for individuals who are 18 years of age or older, who need assistance in finding and maintaining employment, and reside in the 18 northwest counties of Kansas. The scope of the services provided to the individual is defined by them, their guardian, their team and available funding sources.

Employment Connections provides assessment, job development, job training and long term supports to individuals who need assistance to find and to maintain competitive employment. The employment staff make contact with local businesses to stay current in the labor market and the labor needs of the communities. A successful placement must not only meet the employment needs of the individual we serve but also fill the employment needs of the business.

The goal of the program is to provide as many varied work sites and settings to allow all individuals, no matter the disability, the opportunity to work. It is also the goal of the service area to find employment in the least restrictive environment while maintaining the belief that employment be in the most integrated setting possible.

Employment Connections includes Work Services, Community Employment - Supported. Competitive., and Employment Follow Along. The services are provided to individuals who have a desire to work and need assistance in obtaining or maintaining employment.

Every effort is made to assist individuals in finding employment that matches their skills and preferences while meeting the employer’s and the community’s needs.

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Work Services

Work Services provides an opportunity for individuals to experience a work environment with on site support, teaching and skill development. The goal of the program is to provide as many varied work sites and settings to allow all individuals, no matter the disability, the opportunity to work. It is also the goal of the service area to find employment in the least restrictive environment while maintaining the belief that employment be in the most integrated setting possible.

Community Employment - Supported / Competitive

Community Employment is a service provided to individuals with disabilities who have an interest in working in the community independently. Services may include assistance with filling out applications, helping with interviews, learning job skills, orientating to the worksite and employment practices to maintain employment. The number of hours worked, environments, and skills needed for the jobs are matched to the individual’s employment goals. This could be a part time or a full time position or multiple positions in various work environments.

The persons served in Community Employment are assigned an Employment Specialist who is responsible to provide and assist in ongoing training and support for the individual at the job site and other job related skills.

Follow Along

This is a service provided in part through the generosity of the United Way of Ellis County. This program provides individualized support unique to each person. The purpose of this service is to ensure long-term success for both the individual and the employer.

Referral Services

Employment Connections offers contractual employment services through Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation and Working Healthy. If you are interested in more information on these services, please see the links below.

KS DCF Vocational Rehabilitation Services

KDHE Working Healthy

STEPS Program

DSNWK Employment Connections is a Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) provider for pre-vocational services, transportation (related to employment, and supported employment for qualifying individuals through DCF. STEPS is part of the Working Healthy program. Individuals who are eligible for this program are age 16 through 64 years of age, determined disabled through Social Security and are waiver eligible (PD, IDD, BI). DSNWK Employment Connections staff assist to keep individuals stable at their job and assist with career exploration, planning, development of work-related skills.

WORK Program

DSNWK Employment Connections is a provider for Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK) program which is part of Working Healthy. Supported Employment/Individual Employment Support services are supports for individuals who need support to maintain a competitive job. Employment Connections staff can assist with learning new or evolving job responsibilities, support to increase speed, support appropriate interactions with other employees and other employment related issues and/or job-related modifications.

Message to Potential Employers

Employment Connections works with more than 50 business and has 80 individuals with disabilities employed in a variety of settings and positions across the 18 counties.

We are interested in meeting with new employers to establish a relationship and discuss possible employment opportunities. If you would like more information please contact us.