KFI has been a Community Rehabilitation Provider (CRP) partnering with Vocational Rehabilitation to help people with disabilities find jobs throughout Penobscot County for over 30 years.

KFI has a long history of providing job coaching and on-going work supports, to help individuals maintain their jobs. This on-the-job support may include assisting the employee to:

• increase his or her productivity
• understand workplace policies and culture
• build relationships with co-workers and supervisors
• maintain appropriate grooming & dress code for the job
• understand and follow safety procedures

Work Support may also be provided to people who are self-employed and who require support to operate his or her business.

In order for an individual who is being funded by VR to transfer to DHHS-funded work supports, both the VR Counselor and the individual’s Community Case Manager must sign a form to confirm the funding source (MaineCare waiver section 20, 21 or 29)

The Community Case Manager may also send out a “vendor call” to local provider agencies to determine which agency may have the capacity to provide work supports to a new individual;

Ideally, as the employee gains more experience, work supports will fade over time (the number of work support hours will decrease) and the person will receive “natural supports” from co-workers or others on the job.