Champlain Community Services (CCS), Inc. announces an award of $100,000 over three years from The Gibney Family Foundation of South Burlington. The grant represents an investment that enables CCS to fully launch its School2Work career development initiative for high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“School2Work partners with area high schools and businesses, and a number of partner agencies, to offer career development, industry-specific training, and job placement in the competitive economy,” said Michelle Paya, director of supported employment at CCS. The initiative builds on the expertise and resources of the agency’s nationally recognized supported employment program, Way2Work. Elizabeth Sightler, executive director at CCS, said, “We are thrilled to partner with The Gibney Family Foundation, and proud they recognize both our success in connecting individuals with disabilities to meaningful jobs and the potential for School2Work to help students transition to the workplace.”
Paya said School2Work built a successful model serving a limited number of students over the past two years, and now has the infrastructure and funds to hire dedicated staff and serve more students. Partnership with TGFF also extends School2Work’s reach to students who are blind or visually impaired, or facing a number of other physical challenges.
“At CCS, we believe full community membership for those we serve has to do with finding the most natural opportunities to belong. And I think the most natural way is through employment,” Sightler said. “In The Gibney Family Foundation, we have a strong partner that shares our values and priorities on this.”
Founded in 1967, CCS offers one-to-one supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chittenden County and throughout northern Vermont. It is a Specialized Services Agency within the State of Vermont’s developmental services system, with a focus on vocational supports.