Gaston Skills Incorporated

ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILES BY OFFERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES WITH GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT BY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PROMOTE THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COUNSELING, ACTIVITIES, WORK PREPARATION SERVICES, JOB PLACEMENT, AND LIFE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.

THE NORTH CAROLINA INNOVATIONS IS A MEDICAID FUNDED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL, ONE-ON-ONE, OR INTENSIVE SMALL GROUP SERVICES THAT ARE GOAL- ORIENTED. THIS SERVICE PROVIDES SEVERELY LIMITED INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM SPECIFICALLY STRUCTURED INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO WORK TOWARD SPECIFIC GOALS THAT MEET THE VOCATIONAL OR SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES QUALITY INDUSTRIAL WORK FOR MANY BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES IN THE AREA. GSI PRODUCTION TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDE BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND MODEL EMPLOYEES WHO PLAY A MENTORING ROLE. THIS DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE SMALL PARTS ASSEMBLY, PACKAGING, BULK MAILING, COLLATING, RE-WORK, SALVAGING OPERATIONS AND SMALL PARTS INSPECTIONS. CONTRACTED WORK PROVIDES ACTUAL PAID WORK FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN VOCATIONAL AND WORK ADJUSTMENT SERVICES AND WILL PROVIDE WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR PLACEMENT IN AN INTEGRATED, COMMUNITY-BASED JOB.

DAY SUPPORTS IS A STATE-FUNDED SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT FOCUSES ON ENABLING THE INDIVIDUAL TO ATTAIN OR MAINTAIN THEIR MAXIMUM FUNCTIONAL LEVEL. THIS SERVICE FOCUSES ON ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS IN BECOMING CONNECTED TO NATURALLY OCCURRING SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE AND ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

OTHER GSI PROGRAMS ARE: (1) DAY ACTIVITY SERVICES - AN ORGANIZED DAY ACTIVITY PROGRAM WITH SUPERVISION FOR ADULTS FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE DAY IN A GROUP SETTING TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY/DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED. THIS SERVICE IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE AND PROMOTE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, TRAINING IN DAILY LIVING SKILLS, IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH STATUS, AND UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. (2) SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT - A MEDICAID B-3 FUNDED SERVICE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT IS COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT WHICH IS DEFINED AS A JOB THAT PAYS AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE, FOR WHICH ANYONE CAN APPLY, AND IS IN AN INTEGRATED WORK SETTING. A JOB COACH WILL ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL IN ATTAINING AND MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT.