Hardworking. Positive. Punctual. These are just a few of the words Joey’s colleagues at Pinelands Recovery Center in Medford, NJ use to describe him. Diagnosed as a child with a variety of developmental delays, Joey, now 25, has come a long way since he began working at Pinelands in 2015 as a recent graduate of the JFCS Soups and Sweets culinary training program. At first, Joey struggled with his daily tasks and was unsure of his own abilities. No one was convinced he was up to the challenge. “The job was a little more advanced than we expected. That first month was tough,” recalled Joey’s mom, Denise. “I really thought it wasn’t for him.” But Denise quietly encouraged Joey to persist, telling him at the end of each week to “give it another week.”
With a suggestion from Denise, Joey’s supervisor, Chef Victor Martin, reached out to the JFCS Supported Employment Program for guidance. Joey was paired with a job coach and given ongoing follow-along coaching. Little by little, he became more comfortable in his role and developed relationships with his colleagues. With the proper support in place, Joey began to thrive in his duties—and eventually became such an asset in the kitchen he was enlisted to help train and support another JFCS client. “Joey’s growth as not only an employee, but as a person, has been amazing to watch,” said Chef Martin. “We have given him opportunities to succeed and his confidence has improved exponentially. Now Joey is just a regular part of the staff. He’s not the same person who first walked into my kitchen.”
For Joey, success isn’t just about what he does in the kitchen. It’s about being part of something. “Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do,” he says. “I like the camaraderie.” A few years ago, Joey took the initiative to begin helping with inventory in the Pinelands kitchen. As a result, his reading and writing skills improved tremendously, which helped enable him to become more independent in his personal life.
“I always encouraged my kids to go after what they wanted in life, and Joey was no 
exception,” said Denise. “From a young age, he always wanted to cook, so we helped him to make that happen.” As Joey’s self-reliance grew, he began talking to his mother about moving out of the family home—something he had wanted for years but hadn’t been ready for until now. This dream became a reality earlier this year, when Joey moved into his own. Although receives support with buying groceries, clothes shopping, and transportation, he is creating a life of his own—including inviting friends from the JFCS SAIL (Supports to Achieve Independent Living) program over for movie nights and game nights. “I didn’t sleep for the first month,” said Denise. She is slowly getting used to Joey living on his own. “He thinks he’s a rock star,” she said, and we’re inclined to agree!
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