List of Causeway Programs and Services:
Causeway Programs
Employment Supports Program (ESP)
Persons referred by the Ontario Disability Supports Program to our Employment Supports Program receive up to three years of service as they prepare for, obtain and retain paid employment. Participants are offered a wide range of specialized services including:
- Employment planning and assessments: Each participant is helped to develop an employment plan. This includes career exploration, an assessment of transferable skills and employment barriers and the identification of a career goal.
- Job placement: A participant is supported in finding competitive employment. Services may include on-the-job training, job trials and job coaching. Interview, resume and job-search skills are acquired in this process to ensure the future success of the participant.
- Job coaching: An Employment Support Specialist helps each participant to meet the standards of the workplace. This may include assistance with on-the-job training.
- Job retention: Similar to job coaching, except the focus is assisting participants to maintain employment with limited on-going supports and follow-up services.
ESP is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Job Quest
Job Quest is a supported employment program, designed to provide rapid job placement for persons facing barriers to employment. Job Quest’s objective is to help clients secure and retain paid employment within a three-month period. Program principles include:
- Focusing on the individual’s job preference and employment goals.
- Emphasizing rapid job search and placement.
- Matching employment supports to the needs of the consumer.
- Integrating employment supports with other community support systems.
Causeway staff can assist with: resume writing, cover letters and interview skills; job placement and referrals; job coaching and on-site support, as well as job follow-up and job retention. Job Quest aims at finding rapid employment in full and part time jobs in a variety of industries: Administrative, Customer Service, Retail, Hospitality, General Labour, Health Services and many more.
Job Quest is funded by Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Solutions for Youth
Solutions for Youth is a 23-week pre-employment program that assists youth in developing the skills and work habits to obtain employment or return to school. The program runs weekdays from 9:30 – 3:30 and the participants are paid minimum wage. Each participant will assess his/her skills, identify employment barriers and set employment and/or educational goals to be met by the end of the program. Solutions for Youth provides workshops on resume writing, interview techniques, and job searching techniques. Development of professional work habits include: stress management, conflict resolution, anger management, budgeting and self esteem.
Solutions for Youth participants are also involved in a co-op placement related to their field of interest.
Criteria for Admission to Solutions for Youth
- 16 to 29 years of age.
- Out of school
- Be committed to finding employment or returning to school by the end of the program.
- Self-identifies as having a mental illness.
- Speak and understand English.
- Participants will be referred to the program by Causeway’s intake coordinator.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy
Needle Hunters
Needle Hunters provides paid employment to persons who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness. Needle Hunters is contracted through the City of Ottawa to pick up and dispose of paraphernalia from substance abuse and prostitution in selected areas of the city. Staffing for this project is provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Supported Employment in Rural Ottawa
Supported Employment in Rural Ottawa assists persons with a severe mental illness living in Homes for Special Care obtain and maintain paid employment. Work opportunities include farming a vegetable market garden. This program is funded by the United Way and the Community Foundation of Ottawa.
Causeway Services
Wellness Program
Participants in any of Causeway’s programs have access to our Wellness Program, designed to assist individuals with fitness and nutritional support as they work toward their employment goals. Causeway has an on-site fitness centre staffed by a personal trainer to support the physical well-being of our clients. This program is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Employment Resource Centre
The Employment Resource Centre is a vital tool for all Causeway clients during their job search. The Resource Centre offers individuals the ability to enhance their job search, access communication tools and provides assistance in the following:
- Résumé and cover letter preparation
- Assistance in developing interview skills
- Assisted or independent job search
- Access to employment resources, job postings and employment leads
- Use of computer terminals, telephone, fax, photocopier, mailing and supplies
Financial Literacy
Causeway provides a variety of financial literacy programming, including START, a matched-savings program for those living in, or on the wait-list for, community housing. Causeway also does outreach in Ottawa for Rise, a microfinance initiative targeting entrepreneurs living with mental illness and addiction. Causeway will also be piloting Your Financial Toolkit, a series of financial literacy workshops developed by the FCAC.
For information on Causeway’s Programs or Services, please contact Frances Daly at fdaly@causewayworkcentre.org
