Employment is not just about a paycheck. Jobs can affect our self-worth, our relationships and our confidence.

Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit (IU) 13 is in the education business, and at least two of its programs are specifically designed to prepare young people for the workforce.

"For these students, work is especially important," said Gina Guatta, who's been the supervisor of IU13's Lancaster secondary transition programs for 12 years. "For some, they've been told they can't work. They feel proud when they make a contribution. Part of it is growing up, going to school, going to work and taking the next step."

Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, which is located at 1020 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, sponsors four work immersion programs and three school-to-work programs, all secondary transition programs created to teach specific work skills and soft skills and prepare students for life. The programs are designed for students with intellectual and learning disabilities.

"We do a lot of modeling," said Guatta. "Work ethic is difficult to teach. But you can set expectations high and help (students) reach those expectations. For the most part, we're getting them there."

Both secondary transition programs require the entire school year to complete.

Participants in the work immersion programs spend part of their school days performing work assignments at business partners and the other part of their school days reviewing performances, correcting mistakes and learning curriculum in classroom settings. Among the participating businesses are Moravian Manor Communities in Lititz, Masonic Village retirement community in Elizabethtown, Willow Valley Communities in Willow Valley, Lancaster County Career and Technology Center and Lancaster General Health in the city.

One of the missions of the school-to-work programs, which emphasize community-based training in real-world settings, is to prepare students for the work immersion programs. Some of the instruction performed in the introductory programs are performed at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster and at IU13's Burle Business Park location.

"The work immersion programs are for students in their final years of school, and the goal is to get them employed," said Guatta, a resident of West Hempfield Township. "We want these students to increase their skills to attain and maintain employment. We want them to be competitively employed. We want them to build confidence and experience."

Currently, there are more than 80 students with disabilities enrolled in IU13's work immersion and school-to-work programs. The Lancaster secondary transition students are typically between 17 and 21 and reside in all 16 Lancaster County public school districts served by IU13.

Students are referred by their home school districts and then go through application and interview processes to gain entry into the programs.

"Some are students who fall through the cracks, and some are students who a typical high school setting isn't going to help," said Guatta. "They want to work. They want to make their ways in life. We want them to be successful. They want to be successful. Sometimes it's hard for students with special needs to fit in. Maybe they didn't have a dream, but they move forward when they see they can do something."

Depending upon individual circumstances, secondary transition students receive instruction and guidance from IU13 job trainers and mentors from participating business partners. Students learn time management, problem-solving skills, teambuilding, enhanced communications, goal setting, independence, social skills, resume preparation and customer relation skills.

Success breeds success.

"I see (students) come to us as new interns and leave as graduates," said Guatta. "I see how they've grown, and it's internal growth. It's a very different student than the one you've seen from the beginning. I feel fortunate that I get to be a part of their journeys."

One of 29 intermediate units formed across the state in the 1970s, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 serves as a bridge between local school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education and provides educational services, business services, technology support and professional development. Across all of its job training programs, IU13 works with over 700 business partners.

"We talk about work worth doing," said Guatta. "This is work worth doing at its core. This is helping students become productive adults. We talk about trust and unity at IU13. We work together and build a team. I definitely see my programs as being at the core for what we do for society."

For additional information, go to http://www.iu13.org.