Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council

OPWDD is excited and pleased to announce an expansion of the Career Specific Vocational Training series.

Beginning January 2026, they will offer a new training series focused on FOOD SERVICE. The CSVT-Food Service is a basic foundational learning series aimed at participants in your various SEMP and Pre-Voc programs and should have documented interest/experience in food service and vocationally motivated by all things having to do with food & the food service industry. They will be hosting a number of online forums to answer any questions that providers have about the training and wanted to emphasize that as part of the same OPWDD CSVT training. Individuals you refer remain with your organization. The training is designed to provide an avenue for waiver service providers to move individuals closer to the goal of Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE).

Ready to Refer Somone…  OPWDD Career Specific Vocational Training (CSVT) FOOD SERVICE recruitment form  – Fill out form 

Eligibility

• Must be currently Enrolled in OPWDD Waiver Services

Training Overview  

• Free Training 

• 100 Hours of classroom and practical training

• Training days are 4X per week and run for 6 consecutive weeks

• Location: 83 Maiden Lane in Manhattan

Students Receive 

• $50 per week stipend (Total of $300) 

• Industry Recognized Food Certificate

Who is appropriate for this training? 

• Individual who express and interest in working in and around food 

• Express interest working in a restaurant or food establishment setting

• Express interest in fast casual restaurants i.e. Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Shake Shack, Panera Bread and many other places that value and appreciate staff that care about food 

• Express interest working in a Supermarket setting

Curriculum Highlights 

• Cross Contamination

• How to Properly Clean & Sanitize 

• How to properly Wash Pots/Dishes/Utensils

• Basic Knife Skills (Will learn to properly use a knife to cut and prep vegetable and other foods)

• Proper Temperature setting for keeping food Hot/Cold 

• Instruction on the use of Industrial Dishwashing Machines used at many food establishments 

• Working as a team member in a work-setting