Empowering Employment: The WINNERs Program Facilitates Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
WINNERs stands for Worker Initiated Networks for New Employment Relationships. We aim to provide employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities and eliminate the stigma that people with disabilities cannot work—this is not true! People with disabilities can work and want to work. Through the WINNERs program, the Stevens Center can provide support that results in a win-win relationship between employers and job seekers.
Our services follow four principles!
- Actively Seeking: Job Seekers are active in their job search
- They Are Making The Decision: Choices and decisions about work and support are based on the job seeker’s preferences, skills, and experience.
- Employment Is The Goal: Focus is on helping participants get employed, earn at least minimum wage and seeing growth within the company.
- Follow-Along Supports Are Continuous: Individualized support to maintain employment will continue if services are needed.
How to be eligible for WINNERs program services!
To be eligible for the WINNERs program, you need to contact the nearest Employment Independent for People with Disabilities (EIPD) office. We cannot provide services until you go through the EIPD offices. After you visit the EIPD office, they will provide a list of services in your area that may assist you. Once you choose your services, they will send a referral to the employment specialist for the service of your choice. The specialist will accept the referral and contact you to help you achieve employment.
If you would like to learn more about the process of going through EIPD, here is the link to the EIPD homepage: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/eipd
Meet our Employment Specialist
My name is David Baum, and I am grateful to be part of the team here at the Stevens Center. I have a BS in Psychology from Penn State University and an AA in Journalism. My parents were both in the military and I have lived numerous places around the United States as well as spent time in Africa, Russia, and Haiti. I have a passion for this field as I had a family member who was affected by mental health issues, and I wanted to help others who were experiencing similar circumstances because I benefitted from the people that helped my family. I found the Stevens Center through a friend who was associated with a couple who had gotten services here, and they were indebted to the people that worked at this location in regard to the care and attention that they received at The Stevens Center. I hope to bring the same compassion and integrity to work every day that The Stevens Center is known for.
If you would like more information, contact The Stevens Center at 919-776-4048.