Jeremy Sheely
Director
Community Day Program
Phone: 708-342-5200
COMMUNITY DAY SERVICES
Adult Services are offered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at our Tinley Park campus. A variety of programs are offered to enhance each individual’s adaptive living skills, economic self-sufficiency, overall level of independence and integration into the community.
RECREATIONAL THERAPY
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When individuals have an intellectual or developmental disability, they not only need help learning how to live with their disability but how to reduce their sense of isolation. At St. Coletta’s, we help individuals enhance their quality of life by encouraging them to participate in leisure activities, such as art, music, outdoor recreation and games. Our Recreational Therapy program is designed to promote health and wellness by reducing or eliminating the activity limitations in life situations. We believe that health isn’t just the absence of illness or injury, but being able to fully participate physically, emotionally and socially in all activities that interest you.
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
Industrial Services is an in-house work opportunity for those who are best suited for employment in a highly supervised environment. Work projects are contracted from various businesses and distributed as “piece-work.” This means that instead of being responsible for the entire project, the participants complete the pieces they are able to and are paid for the work completed. This affords an opportunity to still work and earn money for many adults who are unable to work in the community.
Examples of work projects underway on St. Coletta’s workshop floor are packaging 3M Tacky Glue and Minwax Wood Filler for Atlas Putty Products Co. and assembling and packaging metal fasteners for Bamal Fastener Corporation.
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
Supported Employment is designed to provide community-based employment opportunities. To prepare each adult for employment, an assessment of the individual is completed. Once assessed, they are assigned a job coach who will work with the candidate prior to employment and during the application, interviewing and training process. The job coach will also help them find local job openings that match their skill level and interests, while also utilizing St. Coletta’s
established network of employers to increase opportunities. Once employed, the job coach will ensure reasonable accommodations are being made while still offering a challenge to engage the participant. Among the businesses employing St. Coletta's participants are Jewel, Emagine Entertainment, Portillo's, Lexus of Orland, McDonald's, Goodwill Store & Donation Center, and FedEx Ground.
JANITORIAL PROGRAM
The Janitorial Program is a curriculum-based,
12-week program that prepares participants for entry-level jobs in housekeeping or janitorial/custodial services. A program coach provides supervision and immediate feedback to participants as they learn carpet care, floor care, restroom cleaning, office cleaning, and how to clean various types of surfaces. Once completed, the participant is ready to apply for work within the community or apply to work internally with St. Coletta’s custodial team. Marcus Cinema, Jewel and TJ Maxx have all employed individuals from our Janitorial Program.
CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM
The Culinary Arts Program is a curriculum-based program that provides participants with classroom and hands-on experiences that are intended to prepare them for entry-level employment in community-based food service establishments. The curriculum includes lectures by program staff, demonstrations, guest speakers, hands-on food service, and internships in the St. Coletta's of Illinois Café.
The program’s classes are held three days a week for three hours. The program’s curriculum is
divided into four 10-week sessions with two-week breaks between each session. At the conclusion of the program, participants will have acquired skills in food sanitation, hospitality service, and basic culinary skills. Among the businesses that have employed individuals from our Culinary Arts Program are Portillo's and Crumbl Cookies.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
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Must be 18 years of age or older
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Must have a documented disability that prevents competitive employment in an integrated community setting
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Must have a valid social security number
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Must have a valid state ID
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Must be certified free of communicable diseases by an M.D.
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Must have funding in place at the time of admission
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Must have a physical in place suggesting that program participation will not jeopardize the individual’s health or well-being
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Must have an interest in program participation
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Must have the skills and aptitude to benefit from the program
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Must be able to obtain transportation or transport self to and from the program site
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Must not possess behaviors that will interfere with the program or potentially present a risk to the individual or to others
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