J

ARC, a nonprofit serving adults with 
developmental disabilities in Metro 
Detroit, wanted to address the real-
ity that not all employees and prospective 
employees have the technology in their 
homes needed to apply for a position or to 
complete state-mandated training once hired 
at JARC. 
Statistics show that in Detroit alone, there 
are about 200,000 people who do not have 
internet access at home. Furthermore, JARC 
found they were losing employee prospects 
during the onboarding process because they 
needed more technical support to complete 
the training. 
To help solve the problem, the JARC 
employment and training room was created 
as a space dedicated to current and potential 
employees for training, assistance and various 
resources at JARC. 
In addition to removing the barrier of 
accessibility to technology, the purpose of the 
training room is interaction. As some appli-

cants apply, JARC has found they need more 
assistance than simply being provided with a 
laptop and internet access. 
JARC also wanted to create a space where 
new employees could become excited about 
advancing in their work and build camara-
derie with their colleagues. In the training 
room, applicants and employees can use a 
quiet, private space in which laptops, high-
speed internet, headphones, snacks, lunch 
and other resources are provided. 
JARC’s employee support coordinator is 
also on hand to assist with the required new 
employee online training course and answer 
any questions. The employment and training 
room, which has already been used by at least 
80 people, is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily 
from Monday through Thursday.
JARC has always been committed to 
meeting the needs of their employees, and 
the new employment and training room is 
the newest of the many resources available 
to staff. JARC also has available a grant pro-

gram for employees who qualify titled the 
“Shulman Hardship Grant,
” which all quali-
fying employees are eligible to access after 12 
months with the organization. 
This grant considers the financial hardship 
employees may face when they incur unex-
pected expenses such as car repairs, funeral 
costs and more. The donor-sponsored grant 
program allows staff to confidentially apply 
for grants up to $2,000 to help pay for these 
unexpected financial needs. The goal is to 
lessen and, in some cases, even eliminate 
financial barriers to enable employees to get 
to work and have some of the financial bur-
den lifted, allowing them to put 
focus on the important work of 
serving people with developmen-
tal disabilities. 
“Our mission is to enrich the 
lives of those we serve and to 
ensure they have the maximum 
opportunity and support needed 
to be successful,
” said Shaindle Braunstein, 
JARC CEO. “We live these values not only for 
those we serve, but for the team who provides 
the service. When we invest in and care for 
our team, they know we see them not only as 
a human resource, but also as a human, and 
this allows them to in turn pay it forward to 
those we serve.
” 

JARC Provides 
Tech Training Room 
for Its Employees

Shaindle 
Braunstein

New facility will remove barriers to work 
for current and potential workers.

JN STAFF 

A JARC trainer assists an 
employee with a question 
on a training module.

A new JARC 
employee 
completes 
MORC training 
in the JARC 
employment and 
training room.

OUR COMMUNITY

JARC is always looking to hire 
dedicated individuals to work in 
several JARC locations in Oakland 
County. If you or someone you know 
is interested in a career at JARC and 
would like to use the employment 
and training resource room to apply, 
call (248) 940-2617, email HR@jarc.org 
or visit JARC’s headquarters located 
in Bloomfield Hills.

18 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 
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