Services: Supported Employment

The Unicorn Supported Employment Program strives to systematically match the skills and abilities of a Unicorn customer searching for employment with the needs of an employer. Unicorn Centers, through a network with Texas Rehabilitation Commission, local employers and trained, experienced staff, participants receive an array of services designed to enhance employment. The goal is to FIND, GET and KEEP employment for the customer.

Find

An individual job coach works one-on-one with each participant to determine interests and the most suitable type of work. Often employers are contacted to help carve out various tasks that could be done on a part-time basis.

Get

Once a job has been found, Unicorn Centers (with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission) provides a Job Coach who facilitates the training process with the participant and the employer.

Keep

In order to keep a job, Unicorn provides ongoing employer support and employment skills classes. The ongoing employer support involves continual communication with the employer to ensure the participant’s success. If problems arise, the Unicorn staff is prepared to reinitiate the training process.

With the employment skills classes, Unicorn provides the opportunity for continued learning and help in navigating and succeeding in a vocation. The employment skills classes are taught by a licensed TEA certified teacher through a partnership with the Northside Independent School District’s Adult Basic Education Program. There is no additional fee for the classes. Due to the extensive coaching and classroom support, we have Unicorn customers we have been employed an average of two to three years, with several Unicorn customers holding jobs for seven to ten years.