Career Quest
2026 Olympic Hwy N #201
Shelton, WA 98584
360-427-7300
Thurston and Mason County services provided: Supported Employment, Community Inclusion

Centerforce
5204 Solberg Drive SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-584-1001
Thurston County services provided: Supported Employment, High School Transition/School to Work, Job Foundation

Exceptional Foresters, Inc

Thurston and Mason County services provided: Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, High School Transition/School to Work, Job Foundation, Housing

Morningside
809 Legion Way SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360-943-0512
Thurston County services provided: Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, High School Transition/School to Work, Job Foundation, Job Club

Vadis
1309 Ruddell Road SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360-999-8273
Thurston County services provided: Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, High School Transition/School to Work, Job Foundation

Arc of the Peninsulas
3243 Perry Ave
Bremerton, WA 98310
360-377-3473
Mason County services provided: Healthy Relationships classes, Job Club (Shelton School District), Representative Payee, Parent Coalition
Thurston County services provided: Representative Payee 

Arc of Washington
2637 State Ave NE
Olympia, WA 98506
360-357-3279
Thurston County services provided: Parent Coalition 

Coastal Community Action
101 E Market St
Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-500-4532
Thurston and Mason County services provided: Transportation for clients engaged in work activities, Representative Payee

Kokua Services
1226 Carpenter Rd SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360-705-4665
Thurston County services provided: Hummingbird Art Studio, LEAD Mentorship Program 

M. Meyer Consulting, Inc
18021 NE Cedar Dr
Battle Ground, WA 98604
360-904-8938
Thurston County services provided: Technical Assistance and Training 

Fox Associates Consultation LLC
4738 51^st Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
425-864-0703
Thurston County services provided: Person Centered Planning

People First of Washington
PO Box 1180
Spanaway, WA 98687
253-999-7222 or 253-273-9158
Thurston and Mason County services provided: Personal Advocacy and Education

Senior Services for South Sound

Thurston County services provided: Senior Inclusion Program

South Sound Parent to Parent
2108 Caton Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
360-352-1126
Thurston and Mason County services provided: Helping Parent Program, Building Blocks Program and Spanish Support Group

Thurston County Inclusion
1212 Palomino Dr SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
360-515-8080
Thurston County services provided: Summer Camp, Year-round Activities

WISE
16040 Christensen Rd #212
Tukwila, WA 98188
206-343-0881
Thurston and Mason County services provided: Technical Assistance/Individual Technical Assistance

Discovery, Assessment, Job Preparation Guidelines provides guidance and parameters for the provision of discovery, assessment, and job preparation services.

Request For Additional Service Hours outlines the process for requesting a change in the maximum number of monthly service hours available to a client.

• Additional Hours Request Form

Incident Reporting Guidelines contains information for agency personnel to follow regarding serious and emergent incidents.

• Incident Reporting Form

Monthly Billing Guidelines contains monthly billing standards for agency personnel to follow.

Client Service Update Guidelines contains information for agencies to follow when completing monthly billing.

Self-Employment Guidelines provide information about obtaining long-term supports for clients who are self-employed.

About The Program

School to Work is a program that is jointly funded by Thurston/Mason County and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). It is designed to assist eligible transition students in obtaining paid employment prior to exiting school. This program uses a team-based planning approach which includes involvement of the student, the student's family, the high school transition teacher, a supported employment agency, the county and the assigned DVR counselor.

The School to Work team exists to ensure that each participant's individual needs, interests and concerns are taken seriously. All decisions are made within the team structure and the student is welcome to request additional clarification and assistance from any partner or the team at any point. The School to Work program is optional and a student is welcome to exit the program at any point if they are no longer interested in or able to participate in program activities.

January Newsletter

• Must be between the ages of 19 to 21 and in the last year of high school.
• Must be enrolled and attending a Thurston or Mason County high school.
• Must be an active client with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) or in certain cases, must be applying for services through DDA.
• Must have a desire to work and be willing to actively engage in employment readiness/preparation activities.
• Must have reliable transportation and/or willing to develop a plan for traveling to and from internship/employment sites.
• Participants are encouraged to apply for benefits through Social Security Administration.

Steps to enroll:

• Complete an Application Packet.
• Select a Supported Employment provider from the Thurston/Mason County Contracted Provider list.
• Apply for DVR High School Transition services.
• Contact your DDA Case Resource Manager. If you are on Non-paid Services caseload, contact 800-735-6740 and request this program.

For more information about this program, please email us at HST.Coord@co.thurston.wa.us or call 360-867-2518

• Resource Fair - March 21, 2023
• Required Documents for DDA Eligibility Determination (zip file)
• High School Transition 101 (Program Information)
• Job Foundation / School to Work Application
• Job Foundation Brochure
• School to Work Brochure
• Selecting an Employment Support Provider
• Side-by-Side Comparison of Job Foundation and School to Work
• Provider Interview Form
• Consent to Share Information Form
• Home-Based Activities for Independence & Employability

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) defines a developmental disability as a disability attributed to an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another neurological or other condition. A developmental disability originates before the individual reached 18 years of age, is expected to continue indefinitely, and results in a substantial limitation to the individual. Visit DDA's website for more information about DDA's Eligibility Determination.

The Resource Guide is updated each year and provides a listing of resources for all individuals with a developmental disability.

Thurston and Mason County Contracted Providers Directory lists the current contracted providers and the services they provide.

A person must first be eligible for Washington State DSHS DDA services.  You will need to contact the DDA Intake & Eligibility Office at 800-248-0949.  The DDA staff will conduct an assessment to determine if an individual is eligible and if funding is available to provide assistance in obtaining and keeping a job.

Read our guide entitled "It's Up to You!".