Who We Are
WorkQuest Texas
Creating Jobs for People with Disabilities
About WorkQuest
WorkQuest Mission Statement & Policies
WorkQuest develops and implements business and marketing initiatives which provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Policies
We place strong emphasis on the quality and reliability of the products and services provided by our member CRPs. All of our products and services are fully guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. If something does not meet your expectations, we will do whatever is necessary to correct the cause of your dissatisfaction.
About Us
Background
Currently, approximately 120 community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) across Texas partner with WorkQuest to provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As the WorksWonders Program’s Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA) for 45 years, WorkQuest has developed personal working relationships with each CRP, providing them the stability and support needed for a successful program.
WorkQuest helps to facilitate relationships between CRPs and program customers, including state agencies, municipalities, school districts, counties and other political subdivisions.
Under WorkQuest’s leadership, the WorksWonders Program has grown into the second largest State Use Program in the nation.
Texas State Use Program
WorksWonders
In 1978, the Texas State Use Program was implemented by WorkQuest, formerly TIBH Industries, to increase employment, wages and, ultimately, enhance the lives of Texans with disabilities. This initiative resulted from the efforts of the Texas Legislature, which created the State Use Program under Chapter 122 of the Human Resources Code.
In the 45 years since its successful implementation, the State Use Program continues to set new marks for the number of people with disabilities employed. In the past year, more than $74 million in wages were paid to these employees for work on state and local government contracts.
To help enhance familiarity and increase involvement among purchasers from state agencies, municipalities, school districts and other political subdivisions, the State Use Program adopted a new moniker – WorksWonders.
WorksWonders is a phrase demonstrating the mutually beneficial partnership involving people with disabilities and the state and local government entities that purchase the products, services and temporary employment services offered through nearly 120 statewide Community Rehabilitation Programs. In the logo accompanying the WorksWonders moniker, the letter W‘s shadow is used to reflect this symbiotic relationship. In addition, the dots associated with the braille letter W have been incorporated into the design for recognition among all WorksWonders audiences.
It is our hope that more and more governmental entities take advantage of the many benefits associated with WorksWonders, and that the W logo will someday be instantly recognized across the U.S. as the mark of a quality product or service offered by a worker with disabilities.
HOW IT WORKS
- Using established criteria, WorkQuests reviews all requests and presents an application for inclusion into the WorksWonders Program, as well as a fair market price, to the Texas Workforce Commission.
- WorkQuest is directly involved in service contract negotiations, bringing the purchasing customer and vendor CRP to agreement on specifications and price.
- The Texas Workforce Commission determines whether each product or service is appropriate to be considered for purchase by public agencies.
- Once a product or service has been approved, WorkQuest works to develop a marketing plan for that product or service. WorkQuest’s staff then implements the plan with state agencies, municipalities, school districts and other governmental entities. As products or services are bought by agencies, WorkQuest facilitates compensation between CRPs and those agencies.
“Visit the WorksWonders website to learn more about the program!”
WorkQuest Benefits
The Governor-appointed Texas Workforce Commission is authorized by statute (1) to determine a fair market price for goods and services produced through the State Use WorksWonders Program (2). And, although political subdivisions are bound by law to get competitive bids, this restriction is waived (3) when purchases are made through WorkQuest.
Benefits of the Program
How We Help People With Disabilities
- Provide stable, vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities in the community.
- Provide people with disabilities the opportunity to become self-sufficient.
- Provide training, meaningful employment and fair wages for individuals with disabilities.
How We Help Customers
- The program offers a wide variety of options with its products and services.
- Each contract is negotiated individually, allowing for customization to meet specific wants and needs.
How We Help Taxpayers
- The State Use Program has proven to reduce the cost of care for people with disabilities.
- By adding employees with disabilities to the workforce, the program helps increase the tax base. National studies have shown a savings in public expenditures for purchases made through the State Use Program.
- Since CRPs are located in large and small communities, the program also stimulates local area economic growth.
Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs)
CRPs & Purchasers
Individuals with disabilities employed through WorkQuest are able to work within their communities. Many of the nearly 120 CRPs are located in metropolitan areas, but centers are also located throughout smaller cities.
In 2022, WorkQuest employed more than 6,400 people with various disabilities, paying over $74 million in wages to these exceptional individuals. With their wages, these workers purchase food, clothing and other items from the community, while some even become self-sufficient enough to live alone. Consequently tax money is freed for use elsewhere.
Our Purchasers
WorkQuest serves a variety of state agencies, cities, counties, school districts and hospital districts, including:
Major Accounts for whom we provide Services:
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Health and Human Services Commission
- City of Houston
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- City of El Paso
- Texas Military Department
- City of San Marcos
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Juvenile Justice Department
- Other
Major Accounts for whom we provide Products:
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice
- Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Military Department
- Texas Juvenile Justice Department
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Other
Major Accounts for whom we provide Temporary Employment Services:
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Department of State Health Services
- Office of the Attorney General
- Health and Human Services Commission
- General Land Office
- Department of Family and Protective Services
- Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Department of Agriculture
- Other