Career Support Spotlight
A Supported Employment Newsletter from Career Support Systems

January 2010

In This Issue
Keeping Up With SSI/SSDI in 2010
A fresh Start in 2010
Who We Are, What We Do
CSS Success
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SSI/SSDI 2010 Changes
CARF
Supplemental Security Income(SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).  The acronyms themselves are confusing enough.  Who can keep up with the rates?  Click here to download this year's SSI/SSDI rates. 
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CARF 
 
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Greetings!

Happy New Year, and welcome to the very first e-newsletter from Career Support Systems.  The purpose of this newsletter is to keep our stakeholders updated with the latest Supported Employment news and trends as they apply to the areas in Virginia supported by Career Support Systems (CSS).  Please feel free to contact janelle@careersupport.net with any questions or feedback.  You can look for our newsletters the second Friday of each month.  Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues.  Enjoy!
A Fresh Start in 2010!
 
There is no doubt that 2009 was a year of high unemployment and low budgets.  Many of us are glad to see 2009 in the rear view mirror, and are looking forward into a more plentiful 2010.  Keeping a positive outlook is always important.  As one CSS customer says "I have worked so hard in 2009 to gain the skills I need to work, I know I will find a job in 2010 to use those skills."  The 2010 employment forecast is looking just as optimistic.  Unemployment rates in Virginia decreased by .2% in Q3, reducing the number of jobless workers by 8,700.  Joblessness has fallen in 36 states, the Gross Domestic Product is growing, and stock prices have grown steadily since March.  These are all bright signs that relief, and more jobs are on the way!  CSS and Virginian's are looking forward to the new opportunities 2010 is going to bring.
Where We Came From, What We Do:
 
Geography served
Career Support Systems, Inc. was founded in 1993 with a goal to promote independence and self-sufficiency among our customers. We accomplish this by delivering an array of exceptional community based employment supports.
Today, we are a successful and thriving organization committed to helping people succeed in their communities and hold their own in a competitive labor market.
CSS supports a variety of customers in community based settings, including people with mild to severe disabilities, people with economic challenges (for example TANF Recipients) and people with medical concerns.
CSS Success: Supported Employment in Action
 
In 2009, CSS successfully placed 232 consumers in new jobs throughout Virginia.  These jobs included, but were not limited to: cooks, custodians, maintenance crews, teacher's aides, retail associates, laundry attendants, parking lot attendants, toll collector, stockers, painters, utility workers, office assistants, dining room hosts/hostesses, dish washers etc.  We look forward to another successful year in 2010. 
 
Career Support Systems is making an impact on community members and businesses.  We are excited about meeting the needs of our customers and being a leader in community based employment supports. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Janelle Martin
Career Support Systems