Small Business Forum Magazine Online June Issue | Page 11

MO: Participants are in our program from 6 months to a year, depending on their readiness to move on to a job search. When they graduate from the SFGH Vocational Program to our Supported Employment Program, I write an honest letter of recommendation highlighting their skills and abilities. The job developer’s goal is to make a good job match so the employer will use our services again in the future.

TW: What are the incentives for hiring people from your program?

There are four different types of hiring tax credit programs available to businesses in San Francisco. They include:

•California Empowerment Zone (EZ) Program: Hiring Credit

oThe California EZ Hiring Credit is one of the incentives within the State Enterprise Zone Program that benefits companies located within particular zones and who hire individuals from target populations. The maximum value is more than $37,000 per qualifying employee over a five-year period.

•San Francisco EZ Payroll Tax Credit

oThe San Francisco EZ Payroll Tax Credit is a tax incentive that is used against payroll taxes. Businesses that are located and operate within Enterprise Zones and who hire an individual from one of the target populations are eligible. The maximum value varies according to the employee’s wages.

•Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit

oEmployers are entitled to a credit against their federal income tax liabilities of up to $9,000 per qualifying employee.

•Federal Renewal Community Tax Credit

oBusinesses located in a renewal community who hires a worker who lives and works in the same renewal community are eligible for the Federal Renewal Community Tax Credit. Employers can save up to $1,500 per qualifying employee per year.

We can also offer businesses a “try before you buy” program called On-the-Job Training from the CA Dept. of Rehabilitation. Employers can be reimbursed for up to three months of the trainee’s salary. After the training period the employer is not obligated to hire the individual.

TW: There's still a great deal of stigma attatched to mential illness. What do we as employers need to know about dealing with someone with a mental illness on the job?

MO: Considering 61.5 million people in the US have a major mental illness each year (1 in 4 people), chances are employers are dealing with mental health issues on the job. In accommodating people experiencing mental challenges consider work pace, work environment, communication & supervision channels and other easy low and no-cost accommodations on an individual basis. For example, one person may do well with increased structure where another person is self-directing and doesn’t need that level of structure or supervision.

TW: Are there any success stories that you can share with graduates of your program?

MO: We have so many success stories. Our supported employment program has placed over 300