Thrift Store Property Sold
The City of Kissimmee made OARC an offer that was hard to refuse. The City offered OARC $1,000,000 for the empty lot across from the Center and the adjacent thrift store property to build a much needed, larger fire station. In order to sell the property, OARC had to find another piece of property to buy because losing the thrift store and the lot eliminated the land OARC needed for future expansion.
Thanks to the efforts of Kelley Thomason, Board member, a piece of property was located on SR 192 across from Heritage Park. This prime piece of property is almost three acres and will offer much needed visibility to the thrift store and the Center. The plan is to open a garden center for the plant nursery program also. OARC closed on the property on June 26, 2007 for $960,000.
The Osceola ARC Thrift Store closed for business on July 20, 2007. The thrift store had lost money steadily since it reopened after being closed for such an extended period of time due to the hurricanes in 2004.
The 310 North Clyde Avenue location is currently for sale for $1,750,000. OARC needs to make enough money from the sale to enable us to build a larger building at the new location on SR 192. The plan is to build a 20,000 square foot building to house both the Center and the thrift store. This is 6,000 square feet larger than the current facility and thrift store.
Nelson Soto: A Success Story
Nelson Soto was referred to Osceola Arc by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation on August 10, 2006 for supported employment services. His placement specialist, Marie Coffey, took him to the Goodwill Self Sufficiency Center, where he was enrolled in Job Club, job preparedness classes, resume preparation, and application completion. Nelson participated in mock interviews to help prepare for future job interviews in the community. All of these activities gave Nelson the confidence he needed to work in the community.
An application was made for employment at Home Depot. A few weeks later, Nelson was called in for an interview. Nelson did well with all aspects of the interview and was very relaxed due to his mock interview practice. Nelson was hired by Home Depot on January 17, 2007. Nelson initially had difficulty with loading items into cars or trucks, especially when he had to tie the items down due to a lack of hand dexterity. To over come this, Nelson practices tying down items on the Home Depot rental vehicles. After practice, Nelson was comfortable with this and was able to tie down items on the customers vehicles with relative ease. Another aspect of Nelsons job was collecting carts. Nelson was making more work for himself than necessary by collecting two carts at a time. With job coaching, he began to collect at least five to eight carts, which is what Home Depot expects. Nelson needed coaching to not ask everyone he passes if they need help out. This was a problem because he would be assisting someone, would ask another customer if they needed help and abandon the first customer. After coaching Nelson corrected this behavior and only asked one customer at a time.
Nelson became very successful with his employment at Home Depot and is currently receiving just follow along support. Nelson has been written up several times by customers expressing their appreciation for Nelson on Home Depots website.
Nelson Soto brings in carts at Home Depot.
Bruce White: From ADT to Competitive Employment
Bruce White had moved to the Kissimmee area to be part of a supported living arrangement. He moved into an apartment with two other roommates. Since supported living was a new experience for Bruce, it was decided that Bruce start at the adult day training program at Osceola ARC. Bruce White started at Osceola ARC on January 3, 2007 and was immediately assigned to the City of Kissimmee enclave where he performed janitorial work. Bruce did well adapting to his new living arrangement and work environment. Unfortunately the City of Kissimmee was facing budget cuts and discontinued the contract for the City of Kissimmee Cleaning Crew. OARC decided to continue the enclave by letting the crew clean the Center. Bruce made the transition with no problems. In fact, Bruce did so well that his time study showed that he should be paid $6.28/hour!
Bruce decided that he was ready for competitive employment. Steve Goes was assigned to be his placement specialist. With Steves assistance, Bruce was hired by Give Kids the World as a dishwasher on October 17, 2007. Bruce works an average of 24 hours per week for $7.00/hour. Although Bruce has not worked competitively for long, he is doing very well learning the various job tasks. His success is assured!
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR OARC
October 2006September 2007
Programs and Services:
Expand enclave or work crews. Goal Not Met
Increase job placements by 18 persons Goal Not Met
Increase follow along services to eighteen individuals. Goal Not Met
Increase ADT enrollment by 5% Goal Not Met
Expand supported living by two individuals and maintain current level of service Goal Not Met
Increase the amount of wages paid to individuals served by 5% Goal Not Met
Obtain an average score of 90% or better on the Consumer Satisfaction Surveys. Goal Met!
Obtain an average of 80% on functional goal acquisition. Goal Met!
Finance and Resource Development:
Increase plant nursery sales by 5% Goal Not Met
Increase income from workshop contracts by 5%. Goal Not Met
Increase the income from thrift stores by 5%. Goal Not Met
Increase revenue from fundraising events by 5%. Goal Not Met
Increase the number of contracts by three Goal Met!
Explore new grant opportunities Goal Met!
Capital Improvement Needs:
Obtain a tree dolly for the plant nursery. Goal Not Met
Obtain a shed for the plant nursery Goal Not Met
Submit DOT grant for replacement buses Goal Met!
Community Awareness:
Continue collaborations with other Osceola groups. Goal Met!
Promote OARC on Access Osceola. Goal Not Met
Cynthia Skokan is a member of the OARC Cleaning Crew.
An artist from the VSA Arts Program demonstrates the guitar for Jamie Rosenberg.
EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT
The Employment Department had a successful year. Eleven individuals were placed in employment during the past fiscal year. The following are the results of the outcome measurement system:
1. Increase the number of persons competitively employed.
GOAL: 20% of the enrollment OUR SCORE: 17%
2. Increase the average number of weeks worked from placement to
termination.
GOAL: 25 weeks worked OUR SCORE: 176 weeks
GOAL MET!
3. Increase the average number of hours worked per week.
GOAL: 20 hours worked/week OUR SCORE: 19 hours
worked/week
4. Increase the average hourly wage per person employed.
GOAL: $6.67 per hour OUR SCORE: $7.35 per hour GOAL MET!
5. Increase in the percentage of individuals receiving salary
increases.
GOAL: 30% OUR SCORE: 75% GOAL MET!
6. Decrease the amount of wait time between IPE development and placement.
GOAL: 6 months OUR SCORE: 5.6months GOAL MET!
7. Increase the percentage of people at less than 20% staff intervention time.
GOAL: 60% OUR SCORE: 89% GOAL MET!
8. Increase consumer satisfaction with services provided.
GOAL: 90% OUR SCORE: 95%
GOAL MET!
9. Increase employer satisfaction with services provided.
GOAL: 80% OUR SCORE: 90% GOAL MET!
10. Increase caregiver satisfaction with services provided.
GOAL: 80% OUR SCORE: 98%
GOAL MET!
David Roman has worked for
Perkins as a dishwasher since May 2002.
Tim Reeves with the owner, Pat has worked at Pats Old Tyme Eatery in Saint. Cloud for one year.
J.P. MacLean has worked at Lowes in Kissimmee since
November 2006.
