Shikum Acher – The Future is Already Here!
July 2020
Shikum Acher is revolutionizing workforce development for people coping with mental disabilities in Israel. They are doing so by developing and implementing innovative models, tools and technological solutions that are unique in Israel and around the world. The association’s programs –operated with the Ministries of Health and Defense – are integrative and adjustable to the specific needs of each participant.
The results speak for themselves:
85% of the program participants are employed in the competitive workforce, at minimum wage and above.
Shikum Acher operates 4 activity centers:
Workit
WorKit is a career development program for young adults (18-35) coping with mental disabilities. It is unique in Israel and across the world. Each young adult in the program is accompanied by two staff members: a coordinator (a professional who meets the participant on a weekly basis and accompanies up to 30 participants at a time), and a career development mentor (for practical application in the community), who helps the participant reach and realize their highest career path. The coordinator and mentor assist the participant in finding and advancing their career path through a unique model, which imparts necessary tools and involves other guides from the labor market.
The Center is an advanced technological hub, completely unique in the country and the world, which utilizes virtual reality simulation to enable individuals coping with mental disabilities to benefit from vocational courses for workforce integration and career development. The Center provides a relevant, cutting-edge curriculum and experience for participants to integrate and advance in the competitive labor market and for the interdisciplinary staff of professionals who support the process.
Kelim Shluvim
Creating with Love is a sheltered employment framework where high-quality household products are designed and produced, and which enables participants to experience, train and improve the basic skills required to succeed in the workforce, such as: coping with change, self-management, and communication with the employer or other employees. The framework provides a success experience, strengthens participants’ sense of efficacy and encourages them to work in the competitive labor market. The program also includes a digital space where participants can learn about computer use, website building, marketing and internet sales.
Everyone Can
Everyone Can is a supported employment framework providing individuals with professional, interdisciplinary guidance and accompaniment on their way to developing a career within the competitive labor market. The program helps participants integrate into the labor market, persevere and progress through industry-wide employers’ network and tools that are tailored to the contemporary and competitive workforce.
The Center
The Center is an advanced technological hub, completely unique in the country and the world, which utilizes virtual reality simulation to enable individuals coping with mental disabilities to benefit from vocational courses for workforce integration and career development. The Center provides a relevant, cutting-edge curriculum and experience for participants to integrate and advance in the competitive labor market and for the interdisciplinary staff of professionals who support the process.
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