Programs Employing People

Programs: The adult day training department provides supports to 54 individuals with severe to profound intellectual disabilities in areas of adult daily living skills, community access and integration, volunteer opportunities, social and recreational activities. Many consumers that participate in this program provide ongoing volunteer services in the community to aid others in need. The adult day training program is licensed by the office of developmental programs, a division of the pa department of public welfare. The program also supports the golden branch seniors program which is licensed by the pa department of aging. This popular program supports 11 consumers who have reached retrement age and have retired from vocational work centers and traditional day supports.

the prevocational program provides paid work opportunities for approximately 85 individuals in a work center environment that focus on vocational skill development and job readiness skills. This program supports individuals with mild to moderate levels of intellectual disability and is a platform from where our consumers will go onto supported employment in the community if so desired. Consumers also paticipate in work place literacy instruction through the adult education department at pep. Consumers participating in the prevocational work center perform packaging, assembly, coallating and secure document destruction contracts and receive commensurate wages for their work.

job supports at pep include community integrated employment services to 29 individuals where individuals participate in job development activities, employment search activities and job placement with community based employers unrelated to pep's primary services. These individuals typically are supported on a 1:1 basis in job finding and job support and receive placements in community based employment with competitive salaries and benefits. Employment specialists remain with the consumer until they are competent in all levels of work requirements. 2017 saw significant increases in new job placement and job retention.

the adult literacy department provides workplace literacy instruction for pep consumers and the philadelphia community at large. Many different adult continuing education options are available for those that have an interest in improving workplace skills, ged attainment and personal goals. This program is heavily dependent on area foundations for funding in literacy programs as we have seen state and local program funding decline over the past several years. The program also works closely with the mayors commission on literacy in philadelphia for professional development and training opportunities. Students work on workplace literacy skills and ged preparation. Respite day camp; camp pep: respite day camp provides four weeks of summer activity to children with disabilities from the philadelphia area. This was pep's founding program 44 years ago and is an excellent support to maintain education and skill levels of children out of school for the summer. In addition to working on educational goals the camp offers programming in arts, music, recreational activities, trips, sport / gross motor skills and swimming in a staff to camper ratio of 1:3. Pfds waiver transportation: waiver transportation provides individuals' financial support in accessing public transportation, paratransit services and support to families in getting their children to day and employment services at pep and community work placements. These supports are part of the benefits available in the person family directed support waiver. All other programs: pep derives revenue from entrepreneurial efforts that include:-facility maintenance programs in conjunction with state service contracts procured through the pennsylvania industries for the blind and handicapped. These service contracts enable pep to place individuals with disabilities in community based jobs with competitive salaries and benefits. Any revenue over expenses from these contracts support pep's other program initiatives and unfunded programs. -development activities are managed through this cost center which includes grant writing and management, agency strategic planning and growth initiatives, community outreach activities such as our annual plant sale. -pepbowl is a program initiative undertaken in 2006 and completed in 2009 with the full renovation and updating of a six lane brunswick bowling center in the lower level of our building. While the center is used for consumer recreation activities it is also open to the community and hosts business leagues and community interest leagues and is available for parties and rentals as well as open bowling. Pepbowl has provided for 6 positions currently held by individuals with disabilities and is managed by a bowling center professional. Revenue realized over expenses returns to pep to support program initiatives and agency mission. Home and community habilitation is a non agency based option for acquiring skills of daily living and community access skills. Provided from an individuals home, staff provide direct supports to engage consumers in life of their community. This program also offers in home respite supports less than 24 hours in the consumers home. This valuable service allows families to take care of important family business while ensuring their child has adequate supervision and support in the community.