The L.E. Phillips Career Development Center offers Programs and Services for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages.  These individuals are referred to the center for a variety of vocational services to assist them with finding and maintaining employment throughout our community.

Our goals while they are at the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center are:

• To offer a variety of work settings on site at the center, including packaging, assembly, sewing, upholstery, custodial, cafeteria, printing, and woodworking services.

• To allow individuals the ability to develop and learn employment related skills such as attendance, hygiene, communication, problem solving, and safety concepts.

• To provide exploration through community experiences for an individual to pursue integrated employment.

• To engage in activities that will contribute to an individual's success in securing and keeping and integrated job.

• To function as a wraparound support service when and individual is not employed.

Our articles of incorporation state the purpose for which we organized was: "To establish maintain, manage and support, through public and individual effort and appeal, a place for the employment of persons who are disabled or disadvantaged, and to provide a means where by such persons can enter into a gainful occupation." The people who are participating in the work areas are as diverse as the products provided. Individuals referred to the center come from all over the state, from as far south as Milwaukee and north to Rice Lake, and from around the world.

We continue to serve over one thousand individuals on a yearly basis, while maintaining the original purpose for which the center was originated back in 1959.

The next time you see a new face, know that we are "Working Together To Make A Difference".

At the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, it takes a lot of community support from partners like you to achieve our mission. The Career Development Center helps provide meaningful and appropriate vocational services and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages. Nearly 1,500 individuals are served each year throughout 8 Wisconsin counties. 
 
We provided over 3000 hours of vocational services and provided 74 new employment opportunities through our job placement services in 2020.
 
In addition to vocational services and employment opportunities, the Career Development Center also operates an Outreach Center in Chippewa County that specializes in homelessness prevention and helping those who may be in a crisis. 
 
They served 501 unique individuals, provided over 2,773 services and coordinated 2,121 nights of shelter in Chippewa County for individuals/families experiencing homelessness or a crisis.
 
We are hosting our 32nd Annual Charity Golf Outing on August 6, 2021 at Hickory Hills Golf Course in Eau Claire. The event is expected to draw over 300 supporters  throughout the Chippewa Valley. Funds raised at this event will directly support local individuals with disabilities and disadvantages.
 
You can help support the Charity Golf Outing in a variety of ways. Be a sponsor for the event and golf at the outing.  Additionally, you can donate items for the silent auction. Donation recommendations include gift certificates, services, merchandise, or themed baskets. Please free to call or email us to make arrangements for pick-up of your donation. Finally, many hands are needed during the event. If you are interested in volunteering at the golf outing, please let me know.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (715) 834-2771, ext. 118 or email me at kjellberga@lecdc.org .

April is National Volunteer Month​
We couldn’t do it without you, volunteers!

Thank you for donating your time and passion to support our mission, providing individuals with disabilities or disadvantages with resources to help them grow personally and professionally.

Volunteers make our internal employee and external community events happen.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities: Express Game, Eau Claire Cavaliers Game, 32nd Annual Charity Golf Outing, Summer Bash, Scheels Shoes, and Christmas Party.

Visit https://www.lecdc.org/volunteer.html to volunteer today!

We would like to take this time to celebrate our volunteers with a short video.

Create healthy eating patterns with foods you love.  Join us in Tasting the Rainbow.  Challenge yourself to try all of the above items by playing blackout bingo with us.  At MyPlate you will find resources to eat on a budget, create healthy meals and more.  Click on the button below to see what's on your plate today!

Written by Em Rainer

This year, Project SEARCH- Menomonie looked a little different. 

Unfortunately, we had to leave our "home site" and were tasked with finding a new location during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the school year on the horizon, we were unsure where we were going to end up. 

L.E. Phillips Career Development Center gave us a home away from home. The CDC partnered with us and provided a location where interns would be able to work side-by-side with folks, a classroom, mentors, and an unbelievable amount of support. While we may not be here next year, we will forever be grateful to the CDC for opening its doors to us.

After a summer of hustle and bustle to prepare for the school year, the interns were able to join us in-person in September. Due to the pandemic, many sites across the country have been struggling with virtual classes and site closures. With support from the CDC, we have been able to stay open and serve our interns! Since September, our interns have been able to work within various departments including custodial, packaging and assembly, woodshop, administration, and the print shop! We continue to look forward to working with other departments as interns develop and master new skills. 

Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program for young adults with disabilities. This program includes hands-on instruction and time in the classroom to learn employability skills. Interns in the program complete three rotations at a local business with the goal of gaining the necessary skills to obtain competitive employment. 

Check out our website, and Facebook! 

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​We are excited to bring in 2021 at the CDC Outreach Office.

2020 was a year of ups and downs and surprises in between.  We had a very busy year providing almost 3000 services to individuals over the year, services like emergency shelter, rent assistance, street outreach, food and hygiene, and Community Cupboard visits. Of those services we served 501 unique individuals. That means that the 3,000 services were provided to 501 different individuals/households. That’s a lot of people! Our 2019 data was about half of these numbers.

In 2020 we received several grants and many coat and warm weather item donations from our community. The Salvation Army in Chippewa Falls closed at the end of the year. From them we received a full size fridge and freezer so we can store frozen foods for donation. This will be great in the spring and summer when we get produce donations also. With that, we are also partnering with the Salvation Army for laundry and food services in the upcoming months. 
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We are currently working on revamping our office, expanding our donation and food pantry area and adding a computer station and private meeting area. In the spring will come the big project of cleaning and organizing our 900 sqft Community Cupboard! 

Like and Follow us on Facebook: ​www.facebook.com/CDCOutreachOffice

Written by Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator

Here is a great resource that will automatically connect you to AmazonSmile.​  

Smilematic is a free Chrome extension that will automatically turn your everyday Amazon purchases into AmazonSmile donations.  Not a Chrome user?  Smilematic Also supports Safari, Firefox & Edge.

Here's the tool: https://couponfollow.com/smilematic

Smilematic will automatically redirect our supporters to our charity every time, so you'll never miss out on a donation again to the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center.

Thank you for your support! 

"Working Together To Make A Difference."

Written by Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator

Layers are the best choice for staying warm in cold weather. Not only do the winter clothes themselves act as insulation, but the air between the layers insulates, too.
Here are layers to consider when dressing this winter: socks, underwear, middle layer, boots, jacket, hat, gloves and snowpants to consider depending on the conditions

Six simple tips to avoid slips, trips and falls during the winter season: 

1. Keep walkways, stairways and other work areas clear.
2. Remove hazards, such as water on floors and snow on sidewalks, immediately.
3. When walking, look where you are going and have your hands ready to steady yourself should you slip. - Walk like a penguin.
4. Avoid carrying heavy loads that may compromise your balance.
5. Mark hazardous areas. Use temporary signs, cones, barricades or floor stands to warn passing workers.
6. Outside, wear footwear with heavy treads for increased traction. Walk along grassy areas if a walkway is covered in ice. Make yourself visible to drivers by wearing a brightly colored jacket or clothes.

For more safety tips this winter visit: 
https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/winter

Make the most out of your holidays this season.  During these uncertain times, events and gatherings have been cancelled.  We postponed our holiday party this year to ensure the safety of our employees, but we didn't cancel celebrating the season.  Our planning committee put together "Holiday Happenings" at the Career Development Center.  This is a month long celebration of the season.  Bringing joy to our employees all month long with holiday treats, beverages, gifts and dress up days.  

For more ideas on celebrating the holidays and enjoying small gatherings safely this year visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html.  

Happy Holidays from your friends at the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center.