PROGRESSIVE WORKSHOP OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY INC

THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO PROVIDE JOB SKILL TRAINING TO APPROXIMATELY 126 INDIVIDUALS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HAD 22 INDIVIDUALS START THE PROGRAM AND 10 INDIVIDUALS WITHDRAW FROM SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS PLACED INTO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT SITUATIONS. OTHERS WHO ARE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY ATTEND THE WORKSHOP SOME HOURS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE JOB SKILLS AS WELL AS INTERACTION WITH OTHERSSERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE: SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, TRANSITIONAL WORK SERVICES, PRE-VOCATIONAL (CPS) AND ADULT TRAINING FACILITY.THE ADULT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER (AAC) WAS OPENED IN MARCH OF 2017. THIS PROGRAM TARGETS INDIVIDUAL RANGING FROM 18-30 YEARS OLD WHO ARE NOT READY TO BE ENROLLED IN ONE OF OUR OTHER SERVICES OFFERED. IN SEPTEMBER 2024 A SECOND ADULT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER OFFICIALLY OPENED IN LEECHBURG PA, WHICH TARGETS YOUNG ADULTS DESCRIBED ABOVE. AS OF TODAY WE HAVE 8 INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTEND EITHER FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME.THROUGH ITS PRE-VOCATIONAL SERVICES, PWAC MAINTAINS A FULL PRODUCTION FACILITY THAT PROVIDES BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE GREATER PITTSBURGH AREA AND BEYOND WITH SUB-CONTRACT SERVICES. PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING WAS PROVIDED ON MANY JOBS FOR WHICH TRAINEES EARNED WAGES BASED ON PIECE RATES. THEIR EARNINGS PROVIDED THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH REALIZATION OF PURCHASING POWER, GAINING INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS TRAINING ON JOB SEEKING SKILLS AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT. TRAINEES CONTINUED TO REQUEST ACCESS TO SERVICES AND PARTICIPATE IN WORK AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE WORK ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CPS COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORT (CPS) (STARTED IN JULY 19) PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND BUILDING INTEREST IN AND DEVELOPING SKILLS AND POTENTIAL FOR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. CLIENTS AND TRAINEES ENROLLED IN CPS SPEND APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THEIR TIME IN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY CAN ATTEND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MUCH MORE. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BASED ON THE PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT PLAN (ISP). EACH PERSON'S TEAM WORKS TOGETHER WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO DEVELOP OUTCOMES AND PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES BASED ON THE STRENGTHS AND PREFERENCES OF THE INDIVIDUAL. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE THE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF SERVICE PARTICIPATION THAT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ISP PROCESS. TRANSPORTATION TO CPS ACTIVITIES IS PROVIDED BY PWAC. SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CPS, OUR CLIENTS AND TRAINEES HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY! HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES :YARNICK'S FARM OAKMONT BAKERY SAM'S CLUB HARRISON HILLS PARK KING'S LANES ALAMEDA KITTANNING AND FORD CITY LIBRARIES SMICKSBURG FARMS AND SHOPPES COMPARISON SHOPPING AT LOCAL GROCERY STORES RINGING BELLS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY BINGO BOWLING LIVING TREASURES SCIENCE CENTER MUSEUMS - VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND MORE! TRANSITIONAL WORK/ SMALL GROUP EMPLOYMENT SERVICES DO WORK AND TRAINING BASED IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY UP TO 60 TRAINEES IN THIS PROGRAM. TRAINEES ENROLLED IN SGE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY UNDER STAFF SUPERVISION AT A 1:2-3 RATIO OR A 1:1 RATIO AND EARN AN HOURLY WAGE OF $7.75 HOUR. TRAINEES ENROLLED IN SGE HAVE GAINED THE SKILLSET NEEDED TO WORK IN MANY TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, TRAINEES TRAVEL TO A BUSINESS'S LOCATION AND ASSIST WITH A PROJECT THAT NEEDS ADDITIONAL MANPOWER OR CAN REGULARLY ASSIST AN EMPLOYER WITH ONGOING NEEDS. TRAINEES WORK IN SUCH LOCATIONS AS RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, HOSPITALS, AND MANY MORE.THE WORKSHOP AGAIN PARTICIPATED IN A "DAY OF GIVING" NOW SPONSORED THROUGH NEXTIER BANK AND THE ACCF. WE RECEIVED SOME MATCHING FUNDS FOR DONATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED ON THE DESIGNATED DATE.WE CONTINUED TO REVIEW AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND HAVE 2 PEOPLE INVOICED IN ACCOUNTING TASKS.THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUES TO MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF NEW INDIVIDUALS JOIN THE BOARD. DURING MEETINGS THEY REVIEW ACTIVITIES, FINANCIAL STATUS AND GENERAL PROGRAMS.