Nonprofit Organization Offering Supportive Employment
Mission
To enhance recovery and independence for people with mental health and other life challenges by employing viable businesses delivering exceptional customer service.
Vision
Advantage Services will operate an economically viable business, providing opportunities for competitive career employment to employees with mental disabilities and those with other barriers to employment by developing jobs in the community and providing work accommodations, thereby assisting employees in attaining greater levels of self-sufficiency.
Values
Advantage Services, Inc. is a social enterprise with many “Core Values,” all of which revolve around customer satisfaction, independent living, meaningful employment, and self-sufficiency. Some main core values include:
Customer Service - Our customers’ needs must always come first to ensure quality services and contracts are maintained to sustain our social enterprise financially.
Training - Every employee is a lifelong learner trained to be proficient in their job. Our employees strive for excellence, and our leaders ensure our performance exceeds customer expectations.
Respect - Respect for ourselves and others through independent thought, building self-worth, and discovering individual abilities.
Voice - Each individual has their unique voice, which defines who they are as a member of society. We help people find their voice and their place in society.
Independence - People with disadvantages can also be contributing viable members of society. Advantage Services is a stepping stone to meaningful permanent employment.
Pledge to Community, Customer, Employee, and Environment
Advantage Services, Inc. is a triple-bottom-line company (Social, Financial, and Environmental). We pledge to train and work with people with barriers to employment. While providing a quality service to our customers to maintain a financially sound company. Additionally, Advantage Services, Inc. strives to reduce its corporate footprint in the environment by using recycled and green products.
Background
Advantage Services, Inc. (Formerly Valley Services, Inc.) was incorporated in 1992 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit to provide supportive employment to people with mental health disabilities. Over the years, we have adapted into a social enterprise model to provide supportive and permanent employment to anyone with any disability or those who are disadvantaged (homeless, coming out of jail or prison, living below the poverty level. etc.). This social enterprise model utilizes fee-for-service contracts to provide these employment opportunities. Less than 1% of our $2.7mil annual revenue comes from grants or donations, allowing us to be a fiscally sound company. Our only grant in 2021 came from our long-time community partner and steadfast donor, American Express.
Advantage Services maintains a minimum of 70% of our workforce having a disability (mental or physical) and 80% living in Low to Moderate Income (LMI) levels. Advantage Services collaborates with other community non-profit partners and government and private companies to fulfill our mission and receive referrals for contracts and employees. Community partners include:
Employment Model
Advantage Services uses a supportive to permanent employment model. Most of our employees are not ready for full-time employment, and many are on SSI or SSDI benefits due to a disability. In the case of our homeless programming, many have barriers that prevent them from holding any employment. These individuals start with our “Clean Team” program working 5-25 hours a week starting at minimum wage (in 2021, 151 [52%] of our 291 employees started in the Clean Team). After demonstrating the ability to show up and the desire to succeed, they are transitioned into other higher-paying positions within the company or outside employment. Of our 291 unduplicated employees in 2021, 471 internal positions were filled; many were promoted and moved up from lower-paying jobs.
Advantage Services utilizes certified Job coaches and mentors to work with all the employees to help eliminate barriers. Advantage Services coordinates with community partners to provide counseling, treatment, housing, and legal assistance. If an employee quits or is terminated, Advantage Services will allow them to reapply in 90 days, and over 90% will be given another chance (in many cases, several chances).
Advantage Services, Inc. has several lines of business, from general labor contracts to more skilled professions such as administrative and maintenance contracts. Advantage Services, Inc. serves government and private companies, actively seeking out contracts at all levels for any job size. Advantage Services, Inc. is a social enterprise seeking like-minded partners and general business opportunities.
Advantage Services, Inc. is a triple-bottom-line driven company (Social, Financial, and Environmental). We pledge to work with people with barriers to employment and provide a quality service to our customers to maintain a financially sound company. Additionally, Advantage Services, Inc. strives to reduce its corporate footprint in the environment by using recycled and green products.
Finally, Advantage Services strives to be an “Employer of Choice” to our permanent full-time employees. We offer many benefits from Outstanding Health care through Select Health (https://selecthealth.org/machine-readable-data) with a 60%-40% premium split (employer pays 60% premium), Vision and Dental (employer pays 100% premium), 13 Paid Holidays, Vacation 12-21 days a year (depending on years of employment), Sick from 12-21 days a year (depending on years of employment), 401K with 6% match (eligible on 1st anniversary)
Corporate Financials
Advantage Services in an effort to be transparent to our customers, partners and the community in which. We serve will post our previous three (3) years of IRS Tax Form 990 on our webpage.