Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation
Fundraise

$47,285 raised

95% complete

$50,000 Goal

Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), located in Fairfield, California, providing services to individuals through the CA Department of Rehabilitation in Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties as well as through private contracts throughout the state of California. The organization was created in 2000 by Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. (California's largest provider of mental health services) to provide employment services to residents of their facilities with mental health issues who were reintegrating into the community with the personal goal of independence.

Dreamcatchers became certified by the Department of Rehabilitation in 2001, obtained a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2003, and received a full three-year Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021. This accreditation means that Dreamcatchers passed an in-depth review of its services and meets rigorous CARF guidelines and internationally recognized service standards. Dreamcatchers was created to provide vocational training services to people with disabilities who were reintegrating into the community with the personal goal of independence. The focus of our program is to provide services that help clients attain independence through successful employment.

Our clients are people who are struggling with the challenges associated with learning disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, and physical or mental disabilities such as schizophrenia and bipolar. We work closely with several community-based organizations to provide consistent services. We value the relationships established by collaborating with community partners to provide a continuum of wrap-around services to individuals needing support. Building relationships with employers is a critical component to the success in achieving our outcomes.

Our staff is multicultural, multilingual, with several individuals identifying their own disabilities. Many of our staff members have been with the agency for over five years while some have been with us for over ten years. They have the passion and dedication to helping others in need.

Mission

Our mission at Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network is to empower and provide hope to youth and adults with limitations and disabilities by providing assessments, job preparation, job placement, and job coaching through informed choice and by collaborating and creating of community partnerships with other agencies.

Needs

General operating expenses is our primary area of need since government reimbursement does not cover the actual full costs to provide services. Many grants also do not cover the actual expenses to operate programs and services as these costs are referred to as administration. Unrestricted donations are highly sought after from generous donors to help offset costs for the organization.

Client wages, for paid-work-experience component, are 100% funded by private sources. The majority of our fundraising efforts through grant applications focus on supporting this component of our services.

We have found that prospective employers prefer job candidates who have proven skills and solid work experience. In order for employers to consider our clients, we cover clients' salaries and workers compensation insurance for a limited number of hours. During this assessment or paid work experience period, we provide job coaching to ensure work safety, compliance, quality of work, and monitor progress. Employers have the opportunity to experience the clients' capabilities and contributions during this brief time with the possibility of hiring them as long-term employees after this experience.

Building relationships with community businesses is essential to our work in order to provide a hands-on training location for our clients. We are always in need of additional business settings, in particular clerical, where our clients can be assessed on their works skills. Dreamcatchers is always searching for community employers who would like some free labor while the work performed by our clients allows us to observe them for work readiness in a supported work trial setting.

Dreamcatchers is in need of in-kind office space to meet with clients in Yolo County, Woodland, or Davis and also Central Contra Costa County. We welcome space that can be used on an occasional basis (such as a shared cubicle) or a more permanent confidential location.

Equity Statement

Dreamcatchers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We embrace all differences and are fully committed to fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. We also take affirmative action to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Dreamcatchers endeavors to recruit and employ the best-qualified employees through a comprehensive hiring process.

Dreamcatchers provides services to all people with disabilities regardless of backgrounds, race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity or expression.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network

Tax id (EIN)

71-0877008

Mission Category

Human Services

Operating Budget

$1,000,001-$5 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, Space: Office or Other, In-Kind Donations

Demographics Served

Individuals with disabilities

Counties Served

Placer, Sacramento, Yolo

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

1125 Missouri Street Suite 302
Fairfield, CA 95610

Service areas

Sacramento, CA, US

Yolo, CA, US

Placer, CA, US

Butte Valley, CA, US, 95965

Solano, CA, US

Phone

707-558-1775

fax

707-425-4365

Email

rkaiser@dreamcatch.us

Website

http://www.dreamcatchersnetwork.org

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