Mercer Goodwill outlines autism employment supports and paid summer work experience for St. Louis-area youth

Representatives from Mercer Goodwill described employment services for people with disabilities and detailed paid summer work programs for St. Louis-area youth at a community presentation.

Sonya Henry, director of Mercer Goodwill’s North County Career Center, opened the event and said the organization partners with Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation to place participants in jobs that match their skills and employer needs. "Our mission is changing lives through the power of work," Henry said, listing programs for people with autism, brain injury, seniors and survivors of domestic violence.

Lena Cloud, coordinator of the Littman Center autism program, outlined the autism employment program’s supports: individualized coaching, group workshops, a weekly social‑skills class and ongoing job retention services. "We do resume preparation, mock interviews, job coaching and long‑term retention check-ins," Cloud said, describing a 12‑week social skills curriculum that meets Thursdays and covers introductions, emotion recognition, workplace communication, self‑advocacy and handling feedback.

Cloud also described SWEP, the eight‑week Summer Work Experience Program funded by the Productive Living Board of Saint Louis County. She said SWEP places eligible county residents aged roughly 16–20 in paid community jobs with job‑coach support. Participants must be available for the full eight weeks, work about 20 hours per week and present I‑9 identity and work‑eligibility forms at intake; Cloud said pay is "usually" minimum wage and was stated as $15 per hour during the presentation. She added that participants must provide transportation, though staff said Mercer Goodwill may be able to assist with bus passes.

Cloud contrasted SWEP with a separate six‑week program funded through vocational rehabilitation (referred to in the presentation as SUE), and described the referral process: interested families can connect to Vocational Rehabilitation via a QR code or complete an interest form for intake. Cloud said applications submitted by February 2 receive first priority; she added that the presenters believed late applications might still be accepted for a short period.

Henry gave a broader overview of Mercer Goodwill’s portfolio, saying the organization serves thousands annually and operates multiple local career centers — North County, South County, Mid County (Littman) and a downtown office — and that addresses and phone numbers would be shared for follow up.

Presenters urged interested residents to contact the listed career centers or call the phone numbers provided; Cloud gave her contact information and Henry said staff would follow up on referrals from Vocational Rehabilitation. The session closed with an invitation to reach out by phone, email or voicemail for application help or questions.