BAWAC – A staple In NKY Adult Care

To kick off our new CBC Member Spotlight Series we have BAWAC, Inc. Below you can read more information about what BAWAC does and how they help our community. BAWAC Community Rehabilitation Center began in March 1973 as a unit of the Northern Kentucky Mental Health-Mental Retardation Regional Board, with support and assistance from the Boone County Association for Retarded Citizens. BAWAC aims to help adults with learning and developmental disabilities lead incredible lives.

Q: Who does your organization serve?

A:  BAWAC, Inc. serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, anyone with barriers to employment, and we also provide the industrial community with a skilled and reliable workforce for production and manufacturing services.

Q: What is the goal of your organization?

A:  BAWAC’s mission is to develop and maximize the vocational potential and quality of life of adult persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment, through the flexible integration of life and work skills training, job placement, support services and employment in a therapeutic or community base remunerative work environment.

Q: What type of services does your organization offer?

A:  BAWAC offers Supported Employment, Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS) and Life Transitions Services (LTS), as well as providing transportation to and from programs and employment for over 250 Medicaid Waiver consumers in six counties per day.  Our transportation department also provides transportation for non-emergency medical appointments through NKADD and Federated Transportation Services of the Bluegrass, Inc.

Q: What does your organization have to offer that is unique in your industry?

A: BAWAC was the first organization to espouse and provide Supported Employment services in Northern Kentucky.

Q: What is a fun fact about your organization?

A:  Our President and Founder, Ken Schmidt, has been at the helm for the past 48 years (and counting).  We have 2 consumers who’ve been attending our programs and receiving our services since (and before) BAWAC’s incorporation in 1973.

Q: What do you like about the CBC?

A:  Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful, within the organization as well as other members.

Q: What is one way networking through the CBC (or in general) has helped you grow your organization/career?

A:  We are brand new to the CBC, but our experience so far has been very positive.  CBC staff has been very helpful with guiding us toward networking and publicity opportunities so that we have more of a presence in the business community.

Q: What is one misconception about your organization, or something you think your customers should know more about?

A:  There are some folks who think we are a production company.  They don’t understand that we subcontract with the business and industrial community to provide paid job skills/opportunities for our consumers.  Any surplus revenue goes to the support of services expenses and operating costs.

Q: How does your business contribute to the culture of the Covington/NKY area?

A:  BAWAC provides training, instruction and supervision in work and related skills; training in self-help, communication, interpersonal, social and vocational skills necessary in achieving optimal personal functioning within the community.

Q: How does your business give back to the community?

A:  BAWAC provides businesses and industry a workforce that is diverse, supervised and competitively priced while delivering a quality product on time and within budget.  Businesses and services that benefit from BAWAC services include:  customer service, food services, health care, logistics, manufacturing, labeling quality inspection, retail and technology.

For more information about BAWAC and the services they offer Visit their website at bawac.org
If you or your business are interested in participating in the CBCs Member Spotlight Series, contact Paul Hugunin at phugunin@cbcky.com
For more info about opportunities and growth for your business click HERE