Employment
Many people living with mental illness want to work and to be more independent — they just need the right support to get there. Mental illness is a leading cause of work-related disability in the United States, yet with the right help, work is absolutely within reach. At the Gainesville Opportunity Center, work is at the very heart of what we do, and we offer three clear paths back to employment: Transitional Employment, Supported Employment, and Independent Employment. We also support members pursuing education — GED, vocational training, and college credits.
Each path meets members where they are, and members can move from one to the next as their confidence and goals grow.
Are you an employer? If you can offer job opportunities to our members, please call the GOC at (352) 224-5523. You can be part of the solution — helping people live meaningful, independent lives.
1. Transitional Employment (TE)
Transitional Employment is a unique Clubhouse partnership, and for many members it’s the first step back to work. GOC holds a real, paid, part-time job in the community — usually about 12–20 hours a week — and members take turns filling it, typically for about six months. There’s no interview and no résumé required, because the Clubhouse holds the position. GOC staff learn the job first and then train the member on-site, side by side, and if a member ever has to miss a shift, GOC staff cover it — so the employer is guaranteed the position is filled every day. When a member completes their TE, they move toward their next goal and a new member steps in. GOC currently holds Transitional Employment positions with Alachua County, and two new positions with the City of Gainesville are coming soon — growing the opportunities available to our members.
2. Supported Employment (SE)
Supported Employment is an individualized service that helps members find and keep meaningful, competitive employment in the community, built around each member’s own goals, strengths, and interests. Working one-on-one with GOC’s employment staff, a member develops a personal employment plan and gets hands-on help at every step — identifying the right kind of work, applying and interviewing, learning the job, and solving problems once hired. Support is structured and goal-focused, typically over about three to six months, with regular one-on-one meetings, goal check-ins, and connections to community partners such as Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). The aim isn’t just to land a job — it’s to keep it and grow, with GOC’s steady support along the way.
3. Independent Employment (IE)
In Independent Employment, a member finds and holds a job on their own and doesn’t need GOC to be in touch with their employer. Even so, the connection to the Clubhouse keeps paying off. GOC continues to help with résumés, job searches, interview skills, and problem-solving on the job — and members stay part of the community through the weekly Employment & Education meeting (Wednesdays at 2:00 PM) and a monthly Employment & Education dinner — a free social event once a month where members come together to share their experiences of school and work. Staying an active member is often exactly what helps someone keep working and thriving.
Educational Support
Work isn’t the only path forward. GOC also supports members pursuing their education — whether that’s earning a GED, exploring vocational training, or working toward college credits — with help finding resources, applying, and connecting to partners like Santa Fe College.