Jeff Canfield and Dewey Hughes.
I have worked with Jeff for the past three years. When I met him, he
was living with his sister and her family in Ashley, Ohio. Jeff was not
taking any medications nor leaving his home. Through the support from
his provider, Jeff became linked with Central Ohio Mental Health and
began taking his prescribed medication. He gradually began being
involved in the community and in 2004, Jeff moved to Delaware in his own
apartment.
After many unsuccessful attempts to work in the community, Jeff
decided that he needed to do something different. In December of 2004,
Jeff met a gentleman named Dewey Hughes. Dewey was unemployed from
Kroger’s due to his BVR job coach funding reaching its maximum. Dewey
was unable to remain employed without the guidance from a job coach.
Through assistance of Dewey’s Support Administrator, Deb Gibson and
myself, Jeff and Dewey met. They immediately connected and decided that
they could work together.
On January 2, 2005 Jeff began mentoring Dewey at Krogers. They work
Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dewey is the Kroger employee and Jeff is
earning income based on a commission through the Ohio Developmental
Disabilities Council grant for Self Determination in employment known as
"Employment Outcome". Jeff independently uses DATA as public
transportation to and from Kroger. Jeff assists Dewey by physically
assisting him with clocking in and out and verbally prompting him
throughout his shift to stay on task. They work togetheras a team to
complete the job at hand.
After working as a mentor for the past seven months, Jeff has decided
that he would like to further his mentor skills and begin looking for
other individuals who may benefit from his service. Jeff has begun
networking by attending the local People First meetings, speaking with
Case Managers with in the county who are working with transition
students and speaking with employment providers within Delaware County.
Jeff’s desire to work as a mentor will not only further his goals to
become more independent in the community but will be essential to other
individual needing extra support to work successfully in the community.
