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Entrepreneur: Job Connection, Inc. keeps workers working
Rita Schilling likes a tight economy. That’s when jobs are plentiful and workers are in
high demand.
Gazette Staff
That’s also when her workers go to work.
Schilling is director of Job Connection, Inc. http://www.jobconnection.org/ at 1501 14th St. W. No. 220 in Billings. Her
non-profit business trains people with disabilities to go back to work and live independently
in their homes.
"We were able to help people with disabilities find work that built on their strengths rather than concentrate
on things that were hard for them," she said.
Here’s what else Schilling had to say about
running a business at the mercy of the economy and
the legislature:
Why start this business?
This business was started in order to support
local businesses when they hired people with
developmental disabilities. People with
developmental disabilities were expressing a desire
to work but usually could not find jobs. If they did find
jobs, they had trouble keeping them. Job Connection,
Inc. was started to provide employers and people with
developmental disabilities with the amount of support
that was needed to make employment successful. We
were able to ask employers what they needed in order
to make employment successful and then we could
figure out how to provide that service.
After we worked for several years with people with
developmental disabilities, funding became available
so we could help people with other cognitive
challenges. People who experience traumatic brain
injury, severe learning disabilities or mental illness
had experienced some of the same difficulties in
employment and our processes were helpful for them also. Now we serve people with all different types of
cognitive disabilities.
Where did start-up funding come from?
The legislature allocates funds every year to the Developmental Disabilities Division of DPHHS to meet the
needs of people with developmental disabilities. There are always waiting lists for these services. The 1981
legislature allocated some additional dollars to the developmental disabilities division in 1981 to provide
service for people on the waiting list. The regional manager in this area convinced the state to let her use a
portion of the funding allocated for Billings to start up this program. It was given funding for one year to see if it
would work. Over the years, we were surprised to hear how many people expected it to fail. It was good we did
not know that when we started.
In 1986, the eligibility and rules for the Vocational Rehabilitation system were changed and they were able
to start to pay us to work with people with other disabilities. Most of our funding is provided by DPHHS.
How long have you been in business?
Since February 1982.
Biggest challenges in running the business?
The economy is always on our minds. When the unemployment rate is low, we are able to find more job
opportunities for people. The employers in Billings have always been supportive of our efforts, but we see a big
difference when the unemployment rate is low.
The most frustrating part of our work is funding. We have people on waiting lists for services all of the time.
It seems the government always has funding to study and document the need for people to work and yet they
never have enough funding to solve the problem.
In order to help people work, we have to be able to get them to work. I wish our city and county could have
more affordable and reliable transportation for people who do not drive. I cannot say enough good things about
the bus system and drivers we have in Billings. However, the area they cover and the times they are available
certainly do not meet the variety of schedules that employers need people. For people living outside the city bus
routes, chances to work are really limited because of transportation.
What was done to overcome those challenges?
We have tried to get our name out so more businesses are aware of our existence and will consider us as
a potential source of referrals when they need employees. We do as much as we can to make employers
aware of our services and confident about the success of employees with disabilities.
We work with our state groups and legislators every session in order to make the needs known.
Legislators in Billings have always been supportive when we visit with them. The Department of Public Health
and Human Services is large and complicated and we are a small part, so we really rely heavily on local
support.
With the needs for transportation, we have had to be pretty creative. Sometimes families can help transport,
sometimes employers will change a schedule, sometimes a coworker is willing to help and sometimes one or
two shifts, people can take cabs. We cannot always overcome this barrier and then we have to "pass" on that
job opportunity.
What is being done to expand the business?
As most people who need our services rely on funding from the legislature, we participate with our state
associations to educate the legislators about the needs and results of our services. Our agency belongs to an
association of nonprofits that work on behalf of people with disabilities. That group, Montana Association of
Independent Disability Services, organizes a cohesive educational effort for the legislature. The funding is
critical. Employers in our area have been very cooperative in hiring people who may require special supports
and those employers deserve the support of the professional community.
Our DDD is now funding a program called community supports. With that funding, we have been able to
help some people with living needs even though the people are not involved in our vocational program. We are
enjoying providing this type of support to people.
Your worst business mistake?
We were located at the complex at 928 Broadwater Ave. when it caught fire. We soon realized the cost of
replacing equipment and records was more than we were insured for. We had added equipment and supplies
over the years and did not fully realize how much it would cost to replace them. The amount of work involved in
recreating those records was huge. We look at our insurance coverage very closely these days.
Advice for someone running a business?
Decide what is most important to you as an agency and make sure your day to day decisions support that
goal. Make plans and goals and make sure the people who are responsible for carrying out the duties
understand how it all relates.
Number of workers?
Eight full-time staff and five part-time staff.
What’s your five-year plan for the business?
Long-term, the labor market is projected to be tight. Whenever that occurs, employers are more apt to look
at hiring a more diverse work force. Our agency looks forward to helping employers have successful
experiences when they hire people with disabilities.
We are excited about the possibilities being presented to people with disabilities these days. Systems are
always changing and it looks like the future will allow people with disabilities more chances to make choices
about what type of services are helpful to them. This new approach will provide us opportunities to develop
additional and innovative service plans for people.
A question you would ask other entrepreneurs?
How do you stay in touch with all technology has to offer? How do you decide how much to invest in?
If you weren’t doing what you are now, what would be your dream job?
I have been involved in helping people with developmental disabilities live productive and responsible lives
in communities since the early ’70s. We have helped people with disabilities to work for 20 years.
I think when I quit doing this, I would want to help people relax and have fun. Maybe I will sell campers.
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