Our mission is to create solutions that change lives for people with disabilities and disadvantages and their families.

Our vision is to enhance the life of each and every person we encounter and serve 20,000 people with disabilities or disadvantages annually in our four-state area by the year 2010.

Description:
In Idaho, Easter Seals-Goodwill assists individuals with disabilities and their families, as well as economically disadvantaged people. We help them in realizing their potential, while insuring independence and dignity in everyday life. Needs are great and our services are diverse.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES
•P.L.A.Y. (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) project is an autism intervention services program for young children ages 14 months through 6 years of age. P.L.A.Y. is family-centered, affordable and effective, involving parents, siblings, grandparents and other caregiver to help them develop meaningful relationships with their family member with autism.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
•Working Solutions, work readiness skills training and family strengthening supports including income packaging, parenting classes and free tax preparation for individuals receiving public assistance, non-custodial parents and low wage workers in the community.

•Goodwill Staffing Services, a full service, competitive staffing agencies serving the Treasure Valley with jobs in legal, clerical, light industrial, payroll, temporary, temp to hire and direct hire.

•Criminal Justice Workforce Re-Entry Services –
Pre-Release, Day Reporting and Women’s Re-Entry Initiative programs addressing barriers faced by people leaving the criminal justice system, enabling them to successfully re-enter the workforce and community.

VOCATIONAL SERVICES
•Goodwill retail stores and processing plants provide transitional employment and job-training opportunities for people with various barriers to employment, including disabilities and economic challenges. Revenue generated by Goodwill retail sales also funds Easter Seals-Goodwill services.

History:
1940s Rotary International President Richard Wells from Pocatello, helped to found Idaho Easter Seals and helped to personally secure $25,000 in donations through a mail campaign.

1950-1970 Easter Seals focused on speech and hearing programs and services to disabled children and adults.

1980s - expanded services and merged with Idaho, Wyoming and Montana Easter Seals programs and also incorporated Goodwill retail stores to become tri-state program called Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain. The merger and expansion provided the ability to maintain high quality services in a sustainable way that reduce administrative expenses (Over 92.4% of revenues go directly to fund programs and services and less than 8% goes to administrative costs.)

1990s-today Easter Seals-Goodwill expanded program areas provide services to a broader population that included not only individuals with disabilities, but also individuals with other disadvantages and special needs.

Contact person: Laura Schultz, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (208) 378-9965

Address:

1465 South Vinnell Way Boise, ID 83709 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.esgw-nrm.easterseals.com

Directions:

Our main office is located just west of Cole and Overland roads, across from the Edwards theater complex. Proceed west on Overland to Vinnell Way. Turn right onto Vinnell. our Goodwill store is on on the left,. . . (more)