People Inc

1219 North Forest Road
P.O. Box 9033 Williamsville, New York 14231
Phone: 716.634.8132
Toll Free NY 1.888.7PEOPLE
Fax: 716.634.3889

A small group of parents and professionals joined forces in the early 1970's to form 
Services to the Mentally Retarded in Erie County (SMERC) to provide social work services,
job placement and residential services. Today, the organization is known as People Inc. and
provides a variety of services to more than 10,000 children, young adults and seniors. People
Inc. is Western New York’s leading non-profit organization services agency. Since 1971
People Inc. has been providing services to seniors, families and people with disabilities
helping them live healthier, independent and productive lives. The growth of the organization
continues to rise with funding from Medicare and Medicaid.

.     1970  Agency formed by a small group of parents and professionals 
.     1971 First group home opens
.     1985 Respite services provided for families
.     1989 Established Licensed and Certified Home Health Care
.     1993  First affordable senior housing complex opens
.     1994  Elmwood Health Center opens
.     1998 People Inc. Foundation formed
Kids on the Block of WNY community outreach program begins
The Museum of disABILITY History is founded
.     2004 Western New York Coalition Pooled Trust established
.     2006  Opened New York State’s first group home for
individuals requiring respiratory assistance
.     2007  Established New York State resolution identifying
New York State Disability History Week
.     2009 Received COMPASS certification in which People Inc.
was recognized by New York State as top 1% of disability service agencies
.     2011  The Elmwood Health Center introduced electronic medical records
and HEALTHeLINK
.     2012  People Inc. operates more than 30 unique Day Programs,
over 100 residential sites, offers a variety of services for
children and young adults, health services, and 17 senior
living apartment sites

Having assisted nearly 10,000 Western New York Residents with services they would 
never be able to have on their own. Some services that People Inc. includes are:
- Disability Services
- Residential Services
- Day Programs
- Vocational Services
- Supported Employment Program
- Family Support Services
- Respite Services
- Children and Young Adult Services
- Health Services
- Elmwood Health Center
- Home Health Care
- Senior Services
- Senior Living: Affordable Housing for Independent Seniors
- Seniors Unlimited Adult Day Care
- Information and Referral Services
- Community Outreach
- Transportation Services

The mission of People Inc. is to help individuals with special needs be more 
accepted throughout society. Different career opportunities within People Inc.
include group home services, self-determination employee, which includes one-on-one
assistance to an at home resident, office employee, ECT. People Inc. employees
nearly 1,000 employees currently and is still in the hiring process for numerous
positions. Having such a wide-range of job opportunities and career options may
people enjoy their employment within the non-profit organization.  Many employees
find a great deal of satisfaction knowing that at work they are constantly giving
back to the community.

Breakdown of Career opportunities within People Inc.:
•       Administrative
•       Behavior Services
•       Day Services (YALT/ work skills
•       Early intervention
•       Elmwood Health Care Center
•       Facilities
•       Home Health
•       Group Homes
•       Nursing
•       Personal Enrichment Program/ Res Hab Services 

.    People Inc.’s Elmwood Health Center had over 36,000 visits 
in 2010 with more than 5,000 active patients, receiving primary and
specialty care.
.    1,057 individuals participate at People Inc.’s 22 different
Day Habilitation locations, receiving training on skills to become
more independent.
.    1,081 individuals are assisted through People Inc.’s
Family Support Programs.
.    709 people live in People Inc.’s 102 group homes, from
Chautauqua to Niagara counties and every neighborhood in between!
.    4,003 individuals are helped through Service Coordination
– case management and linking to services, as a person’s needs
change over their lifetime.
.    1,736 people are part of People Inc.'s Respite Programs.
.    755 independent seniors with low-income live in safe,
affordable apartments through People Inc. Senior Living.
.    86 young adults are part of the Young Adult Life
Transitions (YALT) program: Nine at Buffalo State College,
20 at NCCC, 16 at Daemen, 14 at Erie Community College
(South Campus), and 12 at the University at Buffalo (South Campus).
.    Approximately 30 percent of services are for children.

Employees are People Inc. are rewarded with positive benefits. 
Some of the benefits that People Inc. offer employees are:
•       Health Care
•       Dental Care
•       Vision Care
•       Paid Time-off
•       401(k) plan
•       Tuition Reimbursement
•       Long Term Disability
•       Supplemental life and Disability Insurance
•       Identity Fraud insurance
•       Holiday Incentives
•       People Inc. Employee Advantages

Outside the direct employment of People Inc. employees 
they also provide volunteer opportunities. Volunteers at People
Inc. change the lives of people they offer free services to but
also gain a lot of positives throughout their own lives. With the
growth of People Inc. they are always looking for people to
volunteer at their residential sites and also during their day programs.

Employees and Volunteers 2,500 part-and full-time employees
with 300 community volunteers. Another way to be involved
with this organization but not being an employee is gaining
experiences through an internship. They offer limited number
unpaid internships throughout the organizations. Breakdowns
of the internships opportunities are:

•       Human Services/ Direct Care internship
Details on this internship are that it is an unpaid internship.
Offered to students with at least 30 college credits. Students
are placed in residential or day programs. 150 hours are required.
Offered to 50 students per semester. Also, college credit available.

•       Behavior Management/ Service Coordination internship program
Details on this internship are that it is unpaid and only offered
to students with graduate studies in Social work or Mental health
counseling programs.  Requires 300-600 hours depending on the
program. Limited numbers of students are accepted.
Generally a two-semester internship.

•       Administrative Internship Program
Details on this internship are that it is unpaid.  It is opened to
students currently enrolled in business administration or related
field.  College credit contingent upon college requirements.
Departments may include: Administrative services, business
office, corporate compliance and risk management, facilities
management, foundation, human resources, information
technology, museum of disability history, public affairs,
quality assurance, retention, training.  You must have at least 30
college credits and it requires 150 hours over the course of
on semester.  There is a limited number for this internship
with 50 per semester.