Posted on August 2, 2024
In the fall of 2022, York County Pennsylvania President Commissioner Julie Wheeler and County Administrator Greg Monskie, received information from Penn-Mar Human Services about its Customized Employment Program that helps the people with disabilities it supports find competitive integrated employment. They passed along this resource to Director of Facilities, Jim Runshaw for Human Resources Director, Tiffany Trout.
Timing is everything and shortly thereafter the County assembled all of its supervisors to talk about their staff shortage issues. Innovative options were discussed including employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
“We had gone the temp route to fill facilities positions that have been historically understaffed, but we were frustrated with the results and decided to give the provider agencies a try,” said Tiffany.
Penn-Mar responded with a candidate they thought might be a good fit and early in 2023 Jim had a “wonderful interview” with RJ Powers to talk about an opening for a daytime custodian at the County’s Pleasant Valley Road facility. “RJ and I clicked from the start,” said Jim.
He found RJ to be an extraverted, positive person with the experience and enthusiasm required to secure the job. “My hope for this program is that it will give everyone we hire the opportunity to be their true self, to be comfortable in their role and know that they are welcome on our properties.”
Fifteen months later, RJ is truly a valued member of the custodial crew. The facility where he works requires him to keep the building neat and tidy during normal business hours. He cleans the restrooms, the meeting rooms as they are vacated, pays attention to the common areas at the entry and exit points, and patrols the parking lots and walkways, weather permitting.
“Every single building needs an RJ on their team,” said Tiffany. “He is the face of the Pleasant Valley Road building and knows the name of every person he encounters on the job. When he sees me, he says ‘Hello Miss Tiffany! You hired me!
He loves to talk to people and seems very happy and appreciative to be here. RJ is skilled at his job and his Penn-Mar coach keeps him focused, moving efficiently from detail-to-detail. As much as the job benefits him, his wonderful attitude is a boost for all of us here.”
In June the County hired Dawn Silvin, another job seeker Penn-Mar has supported through its Customized Employment Discovery process.
Dawn recently worked as a housekeeper for a local Holiday Inn Hotel, so she came to her custodial role with a wealth of experience. “She clocks in, grabs her cart and away she goes,” said Tiffany. “Occasionally her Penn-Mar Coach stops in to check on her progress, but she is very focused on the tasks at hand.”
Dawn works three days a week at the County’s Administrative Center in downtown York. Her custodial duties encompass the ceremonial courtroom, various meeting rooms, common areas, and the break room.
Tiffany would like to see the Customized Employment Program expanded. “If any of our departments are looking for help in specific areas, I will share that opportunity with Penn-Mar,” she said. “They also alert us to job seekers they support who may be a good fit for us.”
“As a director of a fairly large department I had my concerns starting this program, but I definitely wanted the opportunity to make it work. And I’m so glad it did,” said Jim. “Penn-Mar’s Customized Employment Program is a valuable resource for the taxpayers of York County, our administration and people with disabilities. It definitely serves a need we have and gives people with intellectual and development disabilities the opportunity to have paid, meaningful work and the experience of being connected to a larger, welcoming community.”