SHELTERED INDUSTRY
SHELTERED WORKSHOP
WORK COOP
What is a sheltered workshop?
• Nonprofit corporations chartered by the state in
which they are located
• Offer training and employment to persons who
are physically, emotionally, or mentally disabled.
• Governed by a board of directors and
administered by a president according to
government standards
• Mission: to use real work to provide job training
and continuing employment to persons with
disabilities
What is a sheltered workshop?
• Offers work opportunities to eligible adults. Behaviors
and skills such as good attendance, work tolerance,
appropriate job attitudes, and production skills are
stressed.
• The work program involves production jobs, for which
the consumers are paid on a piece rate basis or hourly
wage that meets standards of the U.S. Department of
Labor.
• The shop contracts with area industry to perform a
variety of industrial tasks including inspection, sorting,
packaging, assembly, and deburring operations.
• Programs with horticulture often produce a finished
product for sale to the public or the green industry.
Sheltered Workshops
Values of the Horticultural Environment:
• Societal
• People-plant interaction
• Program Options
• Community Integration
• Public Relations
• Self-earning Power
Sheltered Workshops
Advantages and Disadvantages of the
Horticultural Business Environment
Advantages:
• Horticulture works
• Trainees / Employees function in the real world of
business (deadlines, quotas, wages, paychecks)
• Generate part of the income for the program
Disadvantages:
• Employees with disabilities may be taken advantage of
• Training and rehabilitation may lose out to earnings and
getting the job done
• Realities of the competitive world
Sheltered Workshops:
Mission
It is essential to establish a mission for the
program and periodically re-evaluate the
program to see if it is meeting its goals
• Employees with Disabilities
• Training
• Business Venture
Sheltered Workshops:
Leadership
Key Participants:
• Board of Directors
• Chief Executive Officer / President
• Training Supervisor
• Plant Production Manager
– Nursery
– greenhouse
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Plant Marketing / Sales
Landscape / Grounds Contract Marketing Specialist
Instructors
Crew Foremen
Facility and Equipment Maintenance
Sheltered Workshops:
Assessing Community Need
Population to be served
•
Who will be served
•
How Many people need the Program
•
From where will the participants come
Selection of the Program:
•
What types of programs are needed
•
What phase should be developed first
•
What are projections for sales and contracts
•
What is feasible tin the community
Employment Opportunities
•
What competitive jobs are available
•
What is the work-coop potential
Sheltered Workshops:
Assessing Community Need
Avoidance of community business confrontation
• What is the purchasing potential of the center
• Is the center's mission to prepare trained
employees
• Is the community aware that the tax dollar drain
to support the clients is reduced
• Are the center's leaders aware of competition
• Have potential competitors been made aware of
on the job man power training assistance
Sheltered Workshops:
Funding
Funding Sources
• Are start-up grants and loans available
• Will on-going training fees be charged
• Sources of funds could include:
Fund-raisers
Foundations
Government agencies
Federal Programs
Government Contracts
Surplus Property
Community Development Block Grants
etc.
Sheltered Workshops:
Personnel Issues
• Seven day coverage of greenhouse,
nursery, etc
• Seasonal Workload
• Extended hours for retail sales
• Vacation time must avoid peak periods
• Overlapping duties of training staff and
business staff
Sheltered Workshops:
Personnel Issues - Clients
• Admission, Evaluation and training
Placement
• Referral sources
• Screening
• Evaluation (include trial employment
period)
Sheltered Workshops:
Personnel Issues - Wages
• Minimum wage
• Dept. of Labor regulations
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Special Certificates
Regular Program with special minimum wage
Work Activities Center
Evaluation
Training
Individual Rate
• Wage rates and time studies
• Record keeping