Job Readiness & Employment Support

The Kreative Space

The Kreative Space is a job skills training program where each young adult receives a stipend for their work in the workshop. Products made in the workshop are sold online and at local markets. Profits from each product sale go back to the individual artist, and are included in the income portion of their life skills finance classes.

Job Coach

New Perspectives employs a certified job coach on staff at the Kreative Space. With a certification, job coaches are able to provide assistance beyond job training, including working with the new employee (client) on accommodations. A job coach can also provide supported work, meaning they can attend work with a new employee, and/or follow up with the new management. Support levels are decided based on client need.

Soft Skills Training

Neurodivergent workers typically have a difficult time keeping jobs because of soft skills they don't have practice in. At the Kreative Space, we provide training and practice opportunities for soft skills. We focus on communication, teamwork, adaptability, and executive functioning, which includes things like time management, working memory, problem solving, etc.

Job Skills Training

Each student at the Kreative Space works with different areas of the workshop to learn about things they are interested in. As they work, they are supported by the mentor team on goals for skill development, in everything from learning to follow directions, to cleaning effectively, to learning hands on workshop skills.

Resume Building & Interview Practice

Each student has the opportunity to work with the Job Coach at the Kreative Space on building out their resume, including adding their work at the Kreative Space. In preparation for searching for a job, students are also able to practice answering common interview questions, and talk through what an interview looks like. When a student is prepared, they can also try out a mock interview with a staff member they don't know as well!

Volunteer Opportunities

Often clients come to New Perspectives without yet having experience to add to a resume. Besides the Kreative Space, our staff can help clients find local volunteer positions to gain more experience and learn new skills. Some past and current students have volunteered at an aquarium, a retirement home, and local food banks.

Emotional Regulation at Work

Once a week all the students at the Kreative Space attend a team training on Emotional Regulation led by New Perspectives Co-Founder & Therapist Justin Robinson. Throughout the week, the mentor team checks in with students about the training to integrate it into their work. Each student has an emotional regulation plan written out to refer to when they need assistance with regulating at work.

Workplace Accommodations

Each student at the Kreative Space can work with the job coach to learn about accommodations available in most workplaces. As students work on projects, the mentor teams assists them in noticing areas where they could benefit from an accommodation, and how that would look in a workplace. All students at the Kreative Space are provided the accommodation of noise reducing headphones and are allowed to listen to music. Individual accommodations also apply.

Performance Review Reports

Students at the Kreative Space complete weekly goal meetings with the manager of the mentor team to follow up on the skills they are working on. Once a month, students have a performance review with the Director of the Kreative Space to review goal progress, skill benchmarks, and determine stipend amount for the next month. A full report of the review, student & mentor reported goal progress, job coach observations, and skill development tracking are available each month.