Employment Expansion Project

In 2004, the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition (MCC) was awarded a grant to expand employment opportunities for clubhouse members in Massachusetts and nationally while raising the positive visibility of clubhouses and of members' employment success. Funded by this grant, the MCC's Employment Expansion Project has had significant success with using positive employer reference letters in an effort to expand jobs in US ICCD certified clubhouses. In addition to letters, the project supports employment celebration events, clubhouse employment committees and employment focused public awareness campaigns.

Transitional Employment working at the Newton Free Library.

The project has developed 18 positive reference letters from employers encouraging their colleagues to hire members. These reference letters have proved to be very effective in helping clubhouses develop additional transitional and supported employment opportunities. One clubhouse developed 20 jobs (4 different stores) while using the TJX Companies letter from the TJX Companies Home Office in combination with the support letter from Marshalls.

	Director of the Newton Free Library, Newton, MA Library Pages
	Manager of Government Programs for the TJX Companies Stores (Marshalls, TJMaxx, A.J. Wright, HomeGoods and Bob's Stores) Corporate office for retail stores
	Store Manager from Marshalls, Newton, MA Retail: receiving and processing shipments, maintenance, cashiering
	Resident District Manager of Chartwells, a food service organization of Compass Group, Salem, MA Cafeteria: bussing tables and cleaning
	Director of Human Resources for the Marriott , Stamford, CT Loading dock
	Director of Human Resources for the Marriott, Lihue, HI Grounds services: landscaping
	Deputy Director, Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Springfield, MA Equipment technicians and maintenance crew
	Store Manager from Target, Plymouth, MA Fitting room attendant, pricing and stocking
	Division Vice President from The Sun Chronicle, a local Southeastern MA newspaper Inserters, truck loaders and van drivers
	Deputy Chancellor and the Parking & Transportation Director of UMASS Medical School (mailroom position), Worcester, MA Mailroom: sorting and delivering mail
	Editor and Publisher of The Enterprise, a local Cape Cod, MA newspaper Copy setters and typists
	Manager of Braintree Recycling Center, Braintree, MA Sorting recyclables and maintenance
	Executive Director of the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Waltham, MA Clerical: filing, compiling, and mailing packets
	Food Service Director for Southbridge School Lunch Program, Southbridge, MA Food preparation, serving meals, custodial
	Director of Building and Grounds, YMCA Cape Cod, Hyannis, MA Maintaining and cleaning locker rooms
	Chief Executive Officer. Girl Scouts, Great Valley Council, Allentown, PA Clerical: managing front office, answering phones, photo copying, and compiling packets
	Manager, Liberty Lanes Bowling Center, Pinellas Park, FL Lane attendants and cleaning
	Director of Public Affairs and Services, Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI Renting out strollers, running carousel, service representative in gift shop
	Human Resource Manger, Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough Law Firm, Salt Lake City, UT Mailroom, office support
	Director, Support Services, United Jewish Federation , Pittsburgh, PA

The MCC will provide letters to clubhouses that are certified by the ICCD. If your clubhouse would like to receive one of these letters to expand employment opportunities please email the MCC at mccinfo.maclub@verizon.net or fax your request to (781) 398-1735 with the following information:

	Clubhouse name and address
	Employment Coordinator or chosen contact person
	Name and address of company that you want to approach
	Description of past jobs or contact with the company

The MCC will then send you and/or the company the reference letter of your choice. Please request letters only if you are ready to develop the job with the next six weeks. These reference letters have already helped clubhouses in Massachusetts, Missouri, Indiana, and Wisconsin to develop new jobs for clubhouse members! One letter recipient recently commented, "I feel the letter of reference sealed the deal." We will keep you posted as new letters are developed and become available. As you know, the letters can help to open doors but are not a guarantee of a job. If you have any questions about the process feel free to email us at the address above or call us at (781) 788-8803.

Members of the Employment Expansion Project Employer Advisory Board receive an award at the MCC Employment Celebration at the State House in Boston, MA

Towns Served in Massachusetts (see Find a Clubhouse Near You for further information)
MCC Clubhouses are located in the following towns and cities with outreach to surrounding communities:
Attleboro, Bedford, Boston (Down Town and Dorchester), Brookline, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Gardner,
Greenfield, Harwichport, Haverhill, Hopedale, Hyannis, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlboro, Needham,
New Bedford, Northampton (Florence), Norwood, Orange, Peabody, Plymouth, Quincy, Southbridge,
Springfield, Wakefield, Waltham, Westfield, Worcester

Text Links to Pages on the Massachusetts Coalition Web Site
Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Mental Health Support and Employment Assistance and Vocational Training Home Page
Where to find Massachusetts ICCD Certified Clubhouses Near You
Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Employment Expansion Project
Dual Recovery Project (DRA) and Substance Abuse Resources and Meetings for all suffering with a Dual Diagnosis
Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Assisted Housing Project
Employment Focused Articles That Have Appeared in Local Newspapers and Internal Company Newsletters
Massachusetts and National Resources for Mental Health Support Issues
Employment Opportunities within the Clubhouse Coalition at ICCD Certified Clubhouses in Massachusetts

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