Twelve students participated in the Job Skills Program at The Red Barn.
In the Job Skills program, students attend for 2 hours 2 days a week. Students create a fictional company, break tasks into individual responsibilities, complete a list of property and barn chores, work together in a supported environment to solve problems, communicate with each other about what slowed them down, and discuss how much money their company made each day.
Participants learn proper workplace etiquette, marketing basics, typical quality of work standards, and general employment laws. This job skills program is crucial to giving individuals with disabilities the knowledge and ability to find steady employment and lead more independent lives.
Funding from Cawaco was used to pay instructors for the class, basic cleaning supplies needed for the chores, and the construction of the covered wash pad.
The Red Barn has a safe sanctuary policy in place, so two staff members
are required to be with students at all times. This means that the staffing cost is significant but necessary or safety and liability purposes. If funding is sufficient, raised beds, soil, and vegetable plants will also be purchased so that students can learn how to grow food, taking the harvest home to their families.
