Transitional Employment

Transitional Employment (T.E.) was first developed at Fountain House in New York City in 1957. Adventure House began its TE program in March of 1988. It is now replicated worldwide. Most nationwide T.E. is done through Fountain House model programs such as Adventure House.

The Transitional Employment Program gives members an opportunity to regain their self-confidence and self-worth by obtaining real jobs for real pay. It also serves as a stepping-stone to independent employment.

Clubhouse staff meets with local business leaders in order to secure entry-level positions with their companies. Once these positions have been secured, staff learns the job in advance at no charge to the employer. Staff then trains the member until all parties are agreed that the member is able to handle the job on their own. Periodic checks are made by staff to ensure that both employer and member are satisfied.

These placements are part-time so therefore, the positions do not require any employee benefits such as sick leave, vacation time, holidays, or overtime. This can be a huge economic asset to the company.

All placements are part-time, generally 15-20 hours per week. Members become employees of the company. The placements are time limited to six to nine months and at this time the member is taken off this placement and maybe placed on another T.E. At this point staff will train another member for this position, which will work six to nine months therefore being called “Transitional Employment”.

Adventure House’s Transitional Employment Program provides the employer with 100% guaranteed coverage. If the member cannot work for any reason that day, staff will work the position free of charge to the employer. No other program can provide this type of coverage.

If you are an employer and would like for one of our staff to provide you with information about our T.E. program please contact Bryan Eaker by phone or e-mail. He will be glad to send you any information that would be helpful to you or your company. We are sure that once given the opportunity to show how effective this program can be, you will want to be a part of the success in which this can bring to our members as well as to your company.

Independent Employment: Some of our members have used T.E. as a stepping-stone to independent Employment. For those members that feel they are ready to obtain a job of their own, the supports of the Clubhouse are still there for them. Through Adventure House’s Independent Employment Program (I.E.), members can access support in preparing resumes, improving their interview techniques and any questions they may have relating to obtaining their own job.

After obtaining independent employment, these members are encouraged to attend the Clubhouse during non-working hours. The Clubhouse provides members with wage tracking and also prepares their income taxes free of charge.

Members who are working independent jobs become encouraging leaders to other members, offering them encouragement to try T.E. and then go into independent employment.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Adventure House has participated in a vendor ship with the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is an organizational Division within the Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this vendorship is to establish methods for reimbursing allowable cost of providing transitional employment services to clients of VR. This agreement also helps to create, enhance and expand transitional employment opportunities for eligible VR clients.