Mission Services
Why Should You Choose MERS Goodwill for Services?
The primary focus and success of MERS Goodwill’s employment and rehabilitation programs is in our ability to prepare people for the world of work. To be successful on a job involves having sufficient self-esteem and self-confidence, meeting the challenges of one’s personal life and being able to deal with the complexities of interpersonal relationships with co-workers and supervisors, as well as being able to perform the actual work tasks. MERS Goodwill provides the opportunity to work toward the goals needed to achieve the maximum level of productivity in one’s personal life and employment. Below is a list of services we offer. Click on a service to see a description.
Mission Programs & Career Services
All programs and services are offered Monday-Friday from 8-4 unless otherwise noted.
General Information
- Area Agencies on Aging
- Aging Ahead
- Mid-East AAA
- St. Louis AAA
- Aging Matters
- Senior Age AAA
- Aging Best
- NEMO AAA
- Egyptian AAA
- Age Smart Community Resource
- Eastern Regional Alliance
- Family Support Division
- Federal Probation and Parole
- Goodwill Industries International
- Illinois Department of Human Services, Bureau of Blind Services
- Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services
- Jefferson County Developmental Disability Advocates
- Missouri Job Centers (find the nearest Missouri Job Center at servicelocator.org)
- Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
- Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
- Missouri Department of Mental Health, Regional Offices
- Missouri Division of Vocational Rehab
- Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
- New Beginnings
- Productive Living Board (St. Louis County)
- Simon Foundation
- Special School District
- St. Charles Developmental Disability Resource Board
- St. Louis Community College
- St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court
- St. Louis City Family Court
- St. Louis County Family Court
- St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources
- St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS)
- SLPS, Community Access and Job Training
- St. Patrick Center
- The Jewish Federation
- United Way of Greater St. Louis
- US Department of Justice
- US Department of Labor
- WDB: Central Missouri
- WDB: Jefferson-Franklin Counties
- WDB: Madison-Bond Counties
- WDB: Mid-America Illinois
- WDB: South Central Missouri
- WDB: Southeast Missouri
- WDB: Southern Illinois
Please contact your local office for information regarding referrals and fees.
We promise to protect the rights of everyone in our programs. You have the right to:
- Be respected and not be treated in any way that could hurt you, make you feel embarrassed, taken advantage of, or left alone
- Not be asked to buy products from our staff
- Not to be asked to donate to any cause or give anyone money
- Be treated fairly no matter your age, race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, veteran’s status, or disability
- A clean, safe, and supportive training and workspace
- Choose to accept, pause, or refuse services even if you are working with us in more than one service at the same time—we will explain to you what your decision will mean going forward, to help with making an informed decision
- Fully join in planning your own services so you can set and reach your goals
- Choose who works with you to provide these services
- See the MERS Goodwill parts of your case file
- Privacy about your services, and to know that only staff members who need to know about your services will know about your services—we will review the privacy statement during your first meeting, and at least once a year after that
- Choose to be a part of research that we may be doing—we will always follow the rules for ethical and safe research
- Learn about whether our services are successful and to offer ideas for us to do better
- Find out how we may have to share information about your services with the legal system—we will try hard to help you meet the conditions of your release, parole or probation
- Make a complaint about any concerns about your rights not being met that will be looked into and resolved
- Make a complaint about your services without worrying that it will negatively affect you
- Seek help from outside services to advocate for you, and get information from MERS Goodwill about legal resources if you want or need it
It is common for people to worry that their Social Security benefits will disappear if they get a job. For most people, this isn’t the case. In fact, it is often possible to maintain benefits while working, and the Social Security Administration’s programs have several incentives in place to ease the transition back into the workforce. Once you understand the impact that wages could have on your benefits, you’ll be able to make informed choices about your future!
There are great resources available to answer your questions about working while receiving benefits:
- Disability Benefits 101 busts myths, shares information about work supports and can even help you predict how wages will affect your benefits using their Benefits and Work Calculator.
- The SSA Red Book is a comprehensive guide to Title II and SSI programs designed to provide knowledge about these programs and their work incentives.
- Work Incentives Seminar Events (WISE) share information to help beneficiaries re-enter the workforce or to work for the first time. They cover a broad range of topics and are all provided free online. Anyone can attend!
Individuals enrolled in employment services with MERS Goodwill Industries are encouraged to request a planning session with our Certified Benefits Specialist to discuss their options!
Mission Services FAQs
MERS Goodwill serves individuals with disabilities with funding through the Missouri/Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). By meeting with a VR Counselor, you will be able to find out if you are eligible for services. That Counselor will then refer you to the appropriate program.
Our offices providing services in partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation are open from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. The Missouri Work Assistance and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Programs are provided from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Missouri/Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation can be contacted at the office nearest you. Those locations can be viewed here.
Programs vary by geographic area. Please contact the MERS Goodwill location nearest you to hear about specific programs. Click here for a location near you.
MERS Goodwill works with many agencies in the community to provide vouchers to use at the retail stores on a referral basis. Unfortunately, MERS Goodwill does not give or sell their donated cars to the public. Our donated cars are sold “as is” at dealer auto auctions in St. Louis, Rolla and Springfield, Missouri. The revenue from the sale of our donated cars is used to further our mission of helping individuals with employment training and job placement services throughout the bi-state area.
Other services provided through MERS Goodwill include the Supported Living Program (funded by St. Louis office for DD Resources in St. Louis City), Senior Community Service employment Program (SCSEP), Pure Diversion and Sheltered Employment (St. Louis).
MERS Goodwill has Career Center offices in both Missouri and Illinois that can be viewed here.
Referral/payer sources for MERS Goodwill services include:
- Bureau of Blind Services
- Children's Division
- Community Access and Job Training
- Delmar Workforce Development
- Department of Justice
- Division of Family Services
- Division of Youth Services
- Domestic Violence Court
- EPS Rehabilitation
- Family Court Youth
- Family Court - City/County
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Federal Office of Workers Compensation
- Federal Probation and Parole
- Florissant Square Division of Workforce Development
- Fort Zumwalt School District
- Francis Howell School District
- Franklin County Board
- Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services
- International Institute
- The Jewish Federation
- Lippman Division of Workforce Development
- Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
- Missouri Career Center
- New Beginnings
- North Oaks Division of Workforce Development
- North West Division of Workforce Development
- Productive Living Board of St. Louis County
- Project Cares
- Regional Center
- S.T.E.P.
- Simon Grant
- SLATE
- Southwest School
- Special School District
- St. Charles Division of Workforce Development
- St. Charles School District
- St. Louis Community College
- St. Louis Office for DD Resources
- St. Louis Public Schools
- St. Louis Regional Center
- St. Patrick Center
- Veterans Administration IL
- Veterans Administration Springfield, MO
- Veterans Administration St. Louis, MO
- Washington State
- Wentzville School District
Please contact your local office for information regarding referrals and fees.
Services in partnership with Missouri/Illinois Vocational Rehabilitation are provided in weekly meetings with your Case Manager or Employment Specialist.
