Changing the image of disability to ability, one job at a time.
The Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop is a program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (Rancho)—a facility of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS)—that supports patients recovering from disabling conditions who wish to gain and practice job skills in a real work environment.
The Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop sells a menu of affordably priced healthy, novel food choices and handcrafted novelty items to serve the needs of patients, staff, visitors, and the community. Participants learn fundamental job skills and have the opportunity to practice work habits in a supportive work environment. The goal for participants is to sharpen their work skills and increase their confidence before transitioning to competitive employment in the community.
Rancho began in 1888 as a Los Angeles County Poor Farm, where people of different abilities were given a chance to live and work as contributing members of their community. The story continues through the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop.
The program, under the Occupational Therapy Vocational Services Department and operated by Rancho Research Institute, builds on that legacy of inclusivity and productivity. It enables participants (patients) of all diagnoses, abilities, and backgrounds to regain a sense of self-esteem and well-being through work-related activities.
The participant’s recovery is promoted by engaging both the mind and body in a supportive work environment where they are given the opportunity to practice learned skills in a real work setting. Participants learn core self-management and work skills such as:
Taking responsibility
Following a schedule
Safety and food handling procedures
Point-of-sale transactions
Time management and organization
Appropriate work behaviors and teamwork
As part of this employment training program, participants assist 3-4 hours a day with the day-to-day operation of the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop. Participants learn to stock shelves, monitor inventory, handle sales, manage bookkeeping, and practice sanitary procedures for safe food handling under a limited food preparation license and cottage food operation permit. They also gain skills in work behaviors, ethics, and customer service.
Participants receive support with job applications by learning to write a resume, fill out applications, and practice interviewing, so they are well-prepared for employment. Their experience at the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop serves as a valuable reference on their resumes.
Our goal is to actively partner with other community programs that share similar goals, vision, and mission to assist program graduates in gaining structured pathways to employment and becoming productive members of their communities. By partnering with programs such as the Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living, the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop serves as a bridge for participants to transition back into the community with valuable skills.
These skills can be utilized by local businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, farmer’s markets, and community service programs while graduates benefit from ongoing services and support to ensure they are truly ready for work.
One participant, Lorena, was referred to the program to explore her readiness to return to work. Before her stroke, she worked as a forklift driver for a cosmetics company where she also set up for trade shows.
While participating in the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop Program, she improved her standing tolerance, her ability to use her weak arm, and learned new strategies to effectively participate in work-related activities.
She is a valued member of the team and is looking forward to reaching her goal of full employment in the community!
The Rancho Works Café is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All proceeds support the Rancho Works Café and Gift Shop Program, which provides patients with opportunities to re-enter the workforce or engage in productive, meaningful activity.
Feel free to call the café at (562) 385-8205. The administrative office can be reached at asandoval@dhs.lacounty.gov.
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