Team Werks Coop

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Team Werks Coop
Innovative strategies supporting consumers of
mental health services through empowerment, self
direction and the provision of individualized
employment supports and services
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Team Werks Co-op Inc

• Worker Co-op established in 1998 in partnership
  with the St. Josephs Care Group.
• 26 members working part time in 6 business
  initiatives.
• Has social and financial goals. Social
  Enterprise
• Established to provide employment opportunities
  for clients with a mental illness.
• The Co-op has now become a component of a larger
  vocational program Employment Options
• 20-30 non members participate in assessment,
  training and placement activities within the
  Co-op.

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WOOD WERKS

• Manufacture and sale of seasonal bare wood
  products.
• Coat trees, picnic tables, benches and even
  out-houses!

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PIECE WERKS

• Item assembly and package services.

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RAG WERKS

• Manufacturing and sale of rags.

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Water WERKS
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PAPER WERKS

• Confidential paper shredding services

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• Coffee and snack shop located within the hospital.

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INOVATIONUnique,New,Different,Effective

• Partnership with St Josephs Care Group
• Worker Co-op Structure
• Merging Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) and
  Cooperative Principles.
• Unified bottom line. Social versus Business

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Partnership

• Financial sustainability of the Social Enterprise
  enhanced.
• Co-op provides timely access to work site
  assessments, training and placement opportunities
  for new clients.
• Members of the Co-op provide peer support to new
  clients.
• Members provided ongoing individualized clinical
  and vocational support based on need.
• WIN!! WIN!!

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Structure

• Unique objectives of all 6 business units are
  tied into the mandate of the Social Enterprise.
• New ventures can be added, poor performers
  elleminated
• Initiatives with high social value low business
  value can be maintained.
• Flexible compensation structure meets members
  needs.
• Members and new clients can transition from one
  work area to another based on individual
  preference.

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Principles

• Merging the principles of Psychosocial
  Rehabilitation and Cooperatives.
• Cooperatives PSR
• Voluntary Consumer Choice
• Democratic Respect and Dignity
• Economic Participation Actively engage
• Autonomy/Independence Individualized
• Cooperation Service Integration
• Concern for Community Community Integration

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Unified Bottom Line

• Effective organizational structure to address
  social and financial goals.
• Social work, skills development, inclusion,
  attaining ones recovery goals.
• Financial- enterprise self sustainability, focus
  on bottom line, community integration, marketing,
  competition.
• A challenge but can produces positive outcomes.
• Employment in the co-op gave me a fresh start.
  The supports and skills I obtained gave me the
  confidence to make my own decisions on what type
  of work suits me.