Plan to Placement Cohort Series 

Through a series of six interactive sessions, a cohort of Supported Employment Providers will be able to gather Person-Centered Employment Planning information to assist individuals in obtaining Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) that fits their skills and desired needs.

Cohort participants are asked to attend all 6 sessions. Additionally, we will ask that 5 or 6 participants bring a job seeker who they are currently serving to the first two sessions. This series is for King County providers.

Participants will be actively building their skills and at the end of this project, will be able to:

• Gather Person-Centered Employment Plan information
• Utilize Person-Centered information for successful job development
• Use job developing techniques to expedite placement for individuals

*Please note: this series could be cancelled if registration numbers are too low. Registered attendees will be notified by March 16th if this is the case.

Session Dates

• Wednesday, March 30th 9:00am - 11:00am PST
• Wednesday, April 13th 9:00am - 11:00am PST
• Wednesday, April 27th 9:00am - 11:00am PST
• Wednesday, May 4th 9:00am - 11:00am PST
• Wednesday, May 18th 9:00am - 11:00am PST
• Wednesday, June 8th 9:00am - 11:00am PST

 Session Outline & Synopsis

The first two sessions of the Plan to Placement Cohort Series will walk participants through a person-centered employment planning process alongside job seekers chosen by participants. The following four sessions will weave in job development techniques for the job seekers who are currently in job development services. During each session, we will reflect on how to apply the techniques to specific steps on behalf of each job seeker. The goal of this process is that job seekers will be close to placement by the end of the series. Participants time in this cohort can be considered part of the job development process.

3/30 Person-Centered Employment Planning Part 1- "My Day" and Gifts & Strengths (with a Job Seeker)

4/13 Person-Centered Employment Planning Part 2- Strategies for Success, Ideas & Brainstorming, Vision for the Future, and How to Get There (with a Job Seeker)

4/27 Job Development Part 1- Marketing Materials & Video Resumes

5/04 Job Development Part 2- Labor Market Research, Community Mapping, Informational Interviewing

5/18 Job Development Part 3- Common Objections, Features & Benefits

6/08 Job Development Part 4- Negotiating with Employers, Proposals

Debra McLean

Debra is passionate about seeing all people obtain employment. She has been intrigued with community building and person centered planning as a way to see individuals with disabilities succeed in jobs that fit them since 1988. She has worked on a number of projects involving people with disabilities and employment. Debra provides training and consultation on employment and person centered planning in Washington and Oregon, and she has taught classes on these topics at Portland State University in the Teacher Education Program and for Highline Community College. She has worked with schools, families, agencies, businesses, and individuals, both in the U.S. and in Australia. Debra holds an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and Deafness, and she is an enthusiastic walker and family member.

Josie Sparks

Josie Sparks brings many years of experience leading teams utilizing her interdisciplinary background in Community Inclusion and Individualize Employment. It is her belief that community-based participation honors the experiences that each individual brings to the table, demanding inclusion from the ground up, and in the process, captures community values and encourages dialogue with social justice at heart. This keeps her motivated to deliver quality care and superior client outcomes to experience their full potential.

Josie is passionate about leading teams with the idea that opportunities for employment changes lives and creates a positive impact on the social-emotional health of an individual and the communities they live in. She is also passionate in delivering the message that every person is a contributing factor towards their community.