St. Louis Office for DD Resources
Mission: to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities in the City of St. Louis have quality services, choices, and full inclusion.
Agency Listings
MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries
Address: 1727 Locust Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 241-3464
Email: info@mersgoodwill.org
Website: www.mersgoodwill.org
Description: The final outcome for each consumer receiving Supported Living Services is to achieve maximum community integration in an independent living situation. In this program, the first milestone is finding suitable living quarters for each consumer. The next milestone is achieving integration by utilizing community resources. The final milestone is achieving independent living with minimal supports from the program.
The main focus of the Pre-Workshop Program is to assist individuals coming out of a school setting who are in need of acquiring work skills. These individuals typically have not worked and do not have the soft skills necessary to find and keep employment. This program provides the skills training necessary for individuals to obtain and maintain employment within a sheltered workshop setting. The individuals entering the production rates, and interactive skills to work alongside others without conflict.
St. Louis city residents with developmental disabilities who participate in Supported Employment (Job Retention) will benefit as follows: by maintaining meaningful work of their choice, by developing vocational skills, and by participating in self-advocacy and skills training activities. Individuals will also receive mentoring and follow-up retention intervention.
The Sheltered Workshop has been an important part of the operation of MERS/Missouri Goodwill Inc. since its inception in the early 1980's as part of MERS services. The workshop has steadily grown over the years and has attracted referrals of persons who present multiple disabling conditions.