By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Employment Connections program is a service at Hays-based Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas dedicated to creating meaningful job opportunities for individuals ages 18 and older across the 18 counties of northwest Kansas.
The popular program has been in place for more than 50 years, said LaVonne Giess, DSNWK employment services manager.
"We help individuals with all types of disabilities with the opportunity to work," she said. "If they want to work, and that is their goal, then we are going to make that happen."
There are two types of services offered.
Work services is a group of individuals with a working supervisor who goes to the job site, where they complete a set amount of work.
"We have a lawn crew. We have a snow removal crew. We clean the [Hays Regional] airport Monday through Friday. We've been doing that for over 20 years," Giess said.
"We clean the respirators at Enersys and put them back in their lockers. We've been there for more than 20 years."
DSNWK crews also perform janitorial work and help move households.
Giess is proud that her crews never call in sick.
"A lot of the workforce struggles with that. We don't have that problem with work services. We always have people that are subs that can go in and cover for someone else, or staff steps in and covers."
Employment Connections also offers community employment for individuals.
From job assessment and development to training and long-term support, Employment Connections' mission is to help individuals gain the necessary skills and secure competitive employment.
"We look at what kind of job they want to do, what are their skill sets, and what they need help with," Giess said.
Employment Connections staff members work closely with local businesses to match clients with roles that fit their skills and goals and meet the hiring needs of northwest Kansas communities.
"We go with our clients to help them fill out applications and go through the job interview," Giess said.
Once a client is hired, staff provide job coaching and training on-site.
"We'll do a task analysis," Giess said. "Maybe one of our clients needs a picture board if they struggle with reading, things like that, whatever adaptations might be needed."
DSNWK individuals have worked for many Hays businesses, including Xibit Customs, Bright Minds Academy, Walmart, Good Samaritan Society, Cross Manufacturing, Master Cleaners and McDonalds, for a long time.
The jobs, mostly part-time, include dishwashing, food preparation, child care, car detailing, shelf stocking, assembly, cashier and laundry.
"Just a wide, wide range of opportunity. We're all over this community, " she said.
DSNWK participants in Employee Connections have bills to pay just like we all do, Giess said.
"Many of them live in their own apartments," Giess said. "They've got to pay that rent. They like to go out to eat. They like to go to activities.
"They're a very, very important part of our community."
Businesses interested in hiring people in northwest Kansas through Employment Connections can get more information on the DSNWK website at https://www.mydsnwk.org/what-we-do/employment-connections.