Employment & Vocational Services

We assist individuals in seeking employment and maintaining integrated employment in competitive community settings. This includes providing individually tailored and preference-based job development, training, and support to recognize each person’s employability and potential contributions to the labor market. Headwaters is also a contracted vendor with the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide a variety of services.

Employment and training services include:

Job Development and Placement

Job Development and Placement is the process of assisting individuals in finding a community-based job that matches their skills and interests. Activities included in this process may include: - Assessments to determine job readiness, job interests, and job skills. - Assistance with resume development. - Contacting employers regarding potential jobs. - Interview preparation and support. - Initial on-the-job training support when hired.

Job Coaching

This service includes supporting individuals at their place of work to be successful at their job, and to become increasingly independent in their job duties and integrated into their work setting.

Skills to Pay the Bills

"Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success," is focused on teaching "soft" or workforce readiness skills to anyone with barriers to employment. The basic structure of the program is comprised of modular, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.

Pre-Vocational Training Services

Facility Based pre-vocational training services includes training in the development of soft skills and other work skills that lead to successful competitive employment in the community.

  • Work Services – provides a variety of jobs on our production floor that will develop the necessary work skills for competitive employment. Jobs include shredding, packaging, assembly, collating/mailing, quality control and janitorial.
  • Community Contracts – provide work experiences in the community in a group setting. This experience could include building and lawn maintenance, cleaning and janitorial, and working in our Rest Area Maintenance program.

F.O.C.U.S. Community Based Pre-Vocational Services

F.O.C.U.S. is a community-based prevocational (CBPV) program designed to assist individuals with increasing their knowledge of the skills needed for successful employment, and to help them learn and cultivate these skills. These services consist of seventeen different modules broken down into thirty-four sessions. These modules cover a multitude of topics and are designed to touch on every learning style. Built into these modules are business tours and other community-based hands on activities to enhance each person’s learning experience. Each module contains aspects that are focused on employment readiness, and include career discovery activities, local business tours, employer presentations, job shadowing and exploration, and informational interviews.

Headwaters, Inc. operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, religion, income status or limited English proficiency (LEP) in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and related nondiscrimination authorities. Any person who believes they’ve been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice may file a complaint with Headwaters, Inc.

For more information on Headwaters, Inc’s civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, call 715-369-1337 or email [email protected]