Centerforce connects employers with motivated, job-ready candidates at no cost to your business. Our employer partnership program provides recruitment support, job matching, employee coaching and workplace integration services — all free of charge. Whether you're hiring part-time or full-time, we work with you to find the right fit across a wide range of industries. Partner with Centerforce today and gain access to a talented pool of qualified candidates while building a stronger, more inclusive workforce.
Hire skilled workers. Build an inclusive workforce. Partner with Centerforce.
Employer partners
These are a few of the many stories of how our services impact the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Behind every great employee is a team that believed in them first.
We are shining a light on our incredible partners at Five Guys, especially Esme, a manager who has championed our client Matthew, who works as a janitor at the Lakewood Towne Center location.
“The cleaning gets done and it helps our store improve a lot,” Esme said, and Matthew is a big part of that.
Since Matthew joined the team as a lobby attendant in March 2023, something bigger than a clean restaurant has been happening. The crew at Five Guys has grown more comfortable, more aware and more connected because working alongside someone like Matthew has a way of doing that.
That's what inclusive hiring actually looks like in practice. Not a program. Not a checkbox. Just a team that shows up together, every shift.
Thank you to the Five Guys crew for being the kind of workplace Matthew is proud to be part of.
Five Guys
Mod Pizza
Our client Joe has been part of the MOD Pizza Olympia team since April 2023, and he recently celebrated his birthday with his work family.
Shout out to his co-workers Carly and Toby for making Joe feel valued every single shift, not just on special occasions. This is what inclusive workplaces look like: where everyone belongs, everyone contributes and everyone celebrates together.
Here's to many more years of great pizza and even greater teammates.
Who we partner with
Contact us today to join our exceptional roster of employer partners in south King, Pierce and Thurston counties. Current partners include:
What are employer partners are saying about our Centerforce team:
“She has great communication and makes sure tasks get done.”
— Value Village, about our job coach Cathy’s work with our clients who are employed by Value Village
“10 stars. Keep providing excellent service."
— Avamer on Pacific Ridge, whose staff praised our communication, our friendly staff and how well we connect with clients.
“She has great communication and we appreciate how often she check in to make sure all the tasks get done. ”
— Home Depot, about our job coach Ericka work with our clients who are employed by Home Depot
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions for employer partners about our programs, your responsibilities and additional information.
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Our supported employment program is a creative approach to employment for people with disabilities and a valuable resource for local businesses. Employees with disabilities receive individualized training and long-term support to ensure their performance meets employer standards and expectations and encourages job retention.
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People come to Centerforce from a variety of sources. Most clients are referred from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or Developmental Disability Administration (DDA), local school districts and other community partners.
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Businesses who participate in hiring persons with disabilities report lower turnover rates, training and recruitment costs, higher customer satisfaction, improved job performance and morale for work teams.
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After a careful assessment of an individual’s skills and vocational interests, a Centerforce job developer will conduct a job search in the community, assisting prospective employers in the identification of appropriate jobs and tasks to meet the needs of their specific businesses. A comprehensive job analysis is conducted to ensure a good employer/employee match. An applicant is referred followed by a job interview, after which the final hiring decision is the employer’s.
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Employment specialists (also known as job coaches) assist new employees with a comprehensive job orientation, followed by on-going, individualized training and assistance to promote satisfactory work performance on an as-needed basis. They may also provide job modification assistance to employers, disability awareness training for co-workers, or job retention services to the employee and business on a long term basis.
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The employment specialist may analyze job tasks, restructure how specific job tasks are completed or teach tasks differently to best fit employer/employee needs. Most accommodations cost nothing at all and, in most cases, the employment specialist’s time is free to the employer.
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Our staff will offer a variety of support services to make your employment relationship successful. However, as in the case of any employee, you are the employer and you make final decisions regarding your business.
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When you provide a job opportunity to an individual with a disability, you are enriching the community by contributing to diversity in the workplace. Also, you are helping to relieve the strain on the community’s tax base by adding more taxpayers to the workforce.