GVRA Provider Spotlight: Tree of Life

GVRA partners with Tree of Life to connect individuals with disabilities to vocational rehabilitation services and to assist community members facing hardship by linking them to the resources and support they need to succeed.

Tree of Life is guided by core values of person-centered support, strong community engagement, and meaningful collaboration. Through these principles, the organization helps individuals build confidence, develop independence, and gain the skills needed to achieve their employment goals.

By providing a variety of employment-related services, Tree of Life supports GVRA's mission to help individuals prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment. These services include: 

• Job Development and Placement: Assisting clients with identifying career interests, exploring employment opportunities, and securing jobs that align with their strengths and goals.
• Job Coaching and Supported Employment: Providing individualized, on-the-job support to help clients learn job duties, build confidence, and achieve long-term employment success.
• Pre-ETS Career Exploration and Readiness Training: Teaching students essential workplace skills such as communication, professionalism, problem-solving, time management, and interviewing techniques.
• Work-Based Learning Experiences: Offering opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and develop transferable job skills in community settings.
• Ongoing Employment Support: Helping individuals navigate workplace challenges, maintain employment, and continue growing professionally.
   

Partnerships with agencies like GVRA are critical because of the shared commitment to improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities. GVRA provides access to vocational rehabilitation services and opportunities, while Tree of Life provides hands-on support that helps individuals turn their goals into achievable outcomes. Together, we can help remove barriers to employment and create opportunities that may not otherwise be available.

Tree of Life provides hands-on, real-world learning experiences that help individuals build confidence, independence, and employment skills, such as

• Community Distribution Work-Based Learning Program: Students gain practical work experience by assisting with community distribution projects while developing skills such as teamwork, organization, inventory count, customer service, and workplace responsibility.
• Job Exploration and Self-Advocacy Tours: We help students explore various career pathways by visiting local businesses and community organizations. These experiences allow students to learn about different industries while building self-advocacy skills, confidence, and the ability to communicate their strengths and workplace needs.
• Workplace Readiness Classes: Students participate in training focused on essential employment skills, including workplace communication, professionalism, time management, problem-solving, interviewing, and understanding employer expectations.

Through activities like these that can only happen through partnerships like the one with GVRA, individuals gain valuable experience, develop job-ready skills, and increase their confidence as they work toward achieving their employment and independence goals.