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Winona ORC expands community employment supports, hires EDS to boost competitive placements
Summary
Winona ORC leaders told the Workforce Development Board they are serving 113 people and are training a new Employment Development Specialist to expand competitive, community-based jobs; the ORC also announced two program expansions, Step Forward and SPARK.
Ann Mueller, representing Winona ORC, told the Winona Workforce Development Board that the center is serving 113 individuals in a mix of center-based and community-based employment supports.
"Winona ORC is currently serving 113 individuals," Mueller said, describing services that include laundry, production and shredding center work as well as job coach-supported placements at community job sites. She said the ORC is training one Employment Development Specialist (EDS) to support people seeking competitive employment through E1MN and Vocational Rehabilitation Services and is hiring an additional EDS to expand those supports.
Mueller outlined two program expansions. The first, Step Forward (coming in 2026), is a multi-session class designed to build job readiness, vocational skills and career exploration with a 1-to-5 staff-to-participant ratio. The second, renamed SPARK (Skills, Participation, Access, Relationships, Knowledge), is the ORC's day programming focused on communication, independent-living skills and community integration; SPARK currently offers five 3-hour classes weekly and will add three more class times. Mueller noted participants must be on a waiver to join SPARK.
Board members asked about staffing and follow-along supports for participants in competitive placements; Mueller said the new EDS will provide transition assistance and extended employment follow-up. No formal motion or fiscal decision was taken at the meeting; the report was provided for information and planning.
