Goodwill Industries of Kentucky

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky NOTE: Please review this hamdbook before signing the Program and Policies Orientation Checklist PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK Welcome to Goodwill Industries of Kentucky! We hope you will benefit from the services you receive from Goodwill. This Handbook will provide you with information about the programs and services of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. Please review the handbook carefully and keep it for future reference. This handbook is available in alternate formats. Please inform a Goodwill staff person if a different format is needed. GOODWILL MISSION The mission of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is to help people with disabilities or other disadvantages achieve and maintain employment to gain a better quality of life. GOODWILL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Goodwill Industries of Kentucky offers many programs in Workforce Development to benefit individuals looking to get and keep a job. Our services include vocational testing, career counseling and exploration, training in job seeking skills and job keeping skills, referral services, goal development and setting, placement assistance, exit consultation, and follow-up services. Assistance with academic skills is available in the Louisville area through the Alice H. James Adult Learning Center. Our programs include: Vocational Evaluation, Vocational Assessment, Employment Services, Adult Learning Center, and Community Employment. Goodwill Industries of Kentucky provides services and offers employment to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age. ENTRANCE CRITERIA The following guidelines will help determine if you qualify for Goodwill services:    You must be at least sixteen years of age or older. You must be able to care for your own personal needs or provide your own caregiver. You must have your own means of transportation, whether it is by private means or by public transportation. Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 2 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook       Behavior is sufficiently controlled so that you do not present a danger to yourself or others. You must be able to take your own medication. You should be unemployed or underemployed. You should show a desire to work and to benefit from vocational services. There should be records that support your disability and/or disadvantaging circumstance. A third party should provide these records. Payment for program services should be arranged prior to services, where required. YOUR RIGHTS It is the policy of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to treat participants with respect and dignity at all times and to protect the human rights of all participants. Goodwill prohibits the act(s) of physical abuse (including sexual abuse and physical (corporal) punishment) and psychological abuse (including humiliating, threatening and exploiting actions) by staff members, employees and other consumers. As a participant of Goodwill you have the right to:          Help develop your program plan. Choose to participate or not to participate in news stories, photos, etc. Review the information in your case file. Talk with your referring counselor about your progress and future plans. Ask for a planning meeting to discuss any special problems. Have Goodwill staff keep your records confidential and private. Utilize the Procedure for Resolving Participant Concerns free of retaliation. If you are also an employee of Goodwill, you have the right to: Be at Goodwill without fear of injury or harassment from others. Manage your own money unless someone has been assigned to help you (i.e., legal guardian). If you feel your rights have been violated, you can follow the Procedure for Resolving Participant Concerns outlined in this handbook. EXPECTATIONS While a participant at Goodwill, you are expected to:    Attend on days scheduled unless you are sick or have a legitimate reason to miss. Arrive at the scheduled time. Call the appropriate Goodwill staff person if you are going to be late or absent. Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 3 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook       Make an effort to complete tasks requested by Goodwill staff. Follow the rules and regulations of the program and/or work site. Show respect and consideration for the rights of others. Make an effort to achieve the goals in your Evaluation or Career Development plan. Talk with Goodwill staff when you have problems on the job or problems outside of work that may affect your employment or program participation. If you are an employee of Goodwill, then you are expected to follow Goodwill Policies and Procedures related to employment. There are manuals available at your work location and the Division Offices. A Goodwill staff member will review policies and procedures with you when necessary. ACCOMMODATIONS Accommodations (such as large print material, special equipment, etc) will be provided when needed and/or requested. This will help you to succeed and achieve your desired program or employment goals. If you have a special need, discuss it with Goodwill staff. If Goodwill cannot meet your accommodation request, we will refer you to another agency that can. If you believe your needs have not been met after making a request, then you may utilize the Procedure for Resolving Participant Concerns to address your need. ORIENTATION, INTERVIEW & DEVELOPING GOALS An orientation will be held your first day of services. The orientation will provide information about Goodwill and explain program policies and procedures. You will also participate in an intake/initial interview meeting. The purpose of the interview is to gather background information, discuss expectations and develop your program goals with your input. GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES During orientation, Goodwill staff will review safety procedures with you. The following general safety procedures should be followed:       Learn the location of emergency exits, evacuation routes and fire extinguishers. Do not block fire doors, exits, or aisles. Report any accident or injury to Goodwill staff immediately. Do not use elevators when there is an emergency. In an emergency if you are unable to exit the building on your own ask for help. If the fire alarm goes off, exit the building calmly following Goodwill staff. Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 4 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook  Listen to Goodwill staff during an emergency situation. GROOMING AND HYGIENE You are expected to dress appropriately and to be neat and well groomed. Clothing should be clean and modest. The following are examples of clothing that are not acceptable:       Any printing promoting offensive activity or language; Shorts that are tight or shorter than 2 inches off the knee; Tank tops, spaghetti straps, or muscle shirts; Cut-off shirts (midriffs should not be visible at any time); Clothing that is thin cotton and generally worn as undergarments; Spandex clothing should not be worn unless it is an accommodation under other clothing; REPORTING TARDINESS AND ABSENCES It is important not to be tardy; but if you must, you should contact a Goodwill Staff person as soon as possible for tardiness more than 15 minutes after your scheduled start or appointment time. It is in your best interest not to be absent; but if you have to be, contact a Goodwill staff member as soon as you know you are going to be absent. If possible, call at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start or appointment time. CONFIDENTIALITY AND ACCESS TO CASE FILES Information regarding the services you receive, your disability, or your disadvantaging circumstance will be kept confidential by Goodwill. No information will be released without your permission and your signature on a Release of Information Form and HIPAA Form. Your case file is kept in a secured locked area. Only authorized Goodwill staff can see your file. You may review the information in your case file with a Goodwill staff person who can discuss any concerns or questions you may have. For reports from a referral source, you will need to contact that agency to review such reports. Goodwill will only allow you to review reports written by Goodwill Staff. HIPAA It is the policy of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky (GWIK) and all its entities to maintain the privacy of health information in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. GWIK meets the definition of healthcare provider under the Health Insurance Portability and Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 5 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook Accountability Act (HIPAA) and, therefore, is subject to the federal statute in its function as a provider. HIPAA does not cover health information received by Goodwill in its function as employer, including workers compensation, short or long-term disability, or information received based upon the Americans with Disabilities Act or Family Medical Leave Act. During orientation, the HIPAA polices will be reviewed with you and you will sign a form with the rules. A copy will be given to you for your records. RESOLVING PARTICIPANT CONCERNS As a participant in a Goodwill Industries of Kentucky program you have the right to express yourself orally or in writing about a misunderstanding or problem with staff, a policy or an action, and to request an investigation of an infringement of your rights, and a resolution of the alleged infringement of rights. This includes the right to have the concern heard by a person with the authority to act, and if it is a just and reasonable concern, to have prompt remedial action taken, as appropriate, to the well being of the organization. There will be no retaliatory measures taken against you for expressing a concern and following the procedure listed below. Procedure Recognizing that a concern could represent reactions to program services, work conditions, and/or established policies and procedures, Goodwill has formalized the following procedure: 1. You may express an oral concern to your Workforce Development Specialist. 2. If the concern is not resolved, you may request to see the supervisor of your Workforce Development Specialist. The meeting will be held within three working days of the request, if possible. 3. If the concern is not resolved at this level, you may present within five working days, a written description of the concern to the Workforce Development Manager. If the position of Workforce Development Manager is vacant in the Division where the concern originates, then the written description is to be made to the Division Vice President. If you are unable to provide a written description on your own, a Workforce Development Specialist, not previously involved in your program, will be assigned to help you provide a written description. 4. The Workforce Development Manager (or Division Vice President, if appropriate) will gather the necessary facts and respond promptly in writing within five working days, if possible. This written response will state the facts gathered and any agency policy involved. 5. If the issue is not resolved, you may request the issue be reviewed personally with the Division Vice President within seven working days. Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 6 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook 6. If the issue remains unresolved, you may request the issue be reviewed personally with the Goodwill Industries of Kentucky President and the Division Vice President within 10 working days. 7. If the concern is not resolved at this level, you may request the issue be submitted to other appropriate agencies or sources, such as the local or state Human Relations Commission or the Client Assistant Programs. 8. During any of the above procedures, you have the right to be represented by a chosen guardian, conservator, advocate, or counsel. REFERRAL FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES To achieve your program goals, you may request additional services not available at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. When this occurs, Goodwill will assist in making referrals to other agencies on your behalf or will inform you of other agencies that may be able to meet your needs. PARTICIPANT INPUT It is the policy of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to solicit input from participants served in order to determine: 1) if Goodwill programs are meeting participant expectations; 2) what Goodwill is doing well; and 3) what Goodwill needs to improve. At the completion of your services, you will be asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire. We encourage you to do so and let us know how we are doing. If you are unable to read the questionnaire, assistance will be provided. Suggestion/Comment boxes are located in the Workforce Development Department Offices of Goodwill Industries. There are comment cards and pens and pencils available for use. Please feel free to make any comment or suggestions and place them in the boxes. The Workforce Development staff will not see the Comments/Suggestions until it is reviewed and summarized in by Goodwill’s Development Office. REENTRY INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS A participant may re-enter one of Goodwill's programs after a discussion regarding the reasons with the referral source and the participant. It should be determined if re-entry would be of benefit to the participant. Where possible, programming would continue from the point it was interrupted, with a review of the program plan to determine if additional goals are needed. QUESTIONS If you have a question about any part of this handbook, or any of the services we offer, please ask any staff member for further clarification. Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 7 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Participant Handbook Developed: 8/91 Revised: 9/94, 7/97, 8/00, 3/01, 10/03, 12/04 8