Employment: A Cornerstone of Recovery Deborah R. Becker, M.Ed., CRC Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center 2011 NAMI Convention Chicago, IL July 8, 2011

IPS Supported Employment Client choice regarding timing Client choice regarding timing Competitive employment Competitive employment Team approach Team approach Individual preferences are important Individual preferences are important Work incentives planning Work incentives planning Rapid job search Rapid job search Systematic job development Systematic job development Ongoing support Ongoing support

1: Every Person Interested in Work is Eligible

Encouragement About Work and School Zero exclusion Zero exclusion People with justice system involvement People with justice system involvement People with co-occurring substance use disorders People with co-occurring substance use disorders

Focus on Employment –“Have you thought about a job?” –“Would you like to know about work incentives (benefits planning)?” –“Tell me about your work experience?” –“How will you know when you are ready to work?”

Build a Culture of Work Clients share their back to work stories with other clients and staff Clients share their back to work stories with other clients and staff –Written stories in waiting rooms, newsletters… –Speakers at treatment groups, picnics, agency meetings… Posters and brochures about work Posters and brochures about work

Short Conversations About Work Talk about work over time Talk about work over time Don’t push; help people explore the possible benefits and costs of employment Don’t push; help people explore the possible benefits and costs of employment “I believe you can work. It’s up to you.” “I believe you can work. It’s up to you.” Make sure people have good information about benefits, jobs available, etc. Make sure people have good information about benefits, jobs available, etc.

2: Competitive Jobs Are The Goal

Competitive Employment Pays at least minimum wage Pays at least minimum wage Integrated community setting Integrated community setting “Owned” by the worker “Owned” by the worker Not set aside for people with disabilities Not set aside for people with disabilities Part-time or full-time jobs Part-time or full-time jobs

Competitive Jobs Landscaper Landscaper Machine Operator Machine Operator Photographer Photographer Receptionist Receptionist Reporter Reporter Sales Clerk Sales Clerk Security officer Security officer Welder Welder

More Competitive Jobs Baker’s assistant Baker’s assistant Childcare Worker Childcare Worker Data Entry Data Entry Deli Meat Cutter Deli Meat Cutter Grocery Bagger/Carriage Attendant Grocery Bagger/Carriage Attendant Housekeeper Housekeeper Dishwasher Dishwasher

3: Employment Services And Mental Health Services Are Integrated

Team Approach IPS worker assigned to 1-2 teams IPS worker assigned to 1-2 teams Participate in weekly team meetings Participate in weekly team meetings Communicate outside of meetings Communicate outside of meetings Share office space Share office space Help team think about work/school for others Help team think about work/school for others Connect with families Connect with families

Work is Everybody’s Business Team members share: Team members share: –Client strengths, experiences, coping strategies –Ideas for job types –Job leads –Job support

4: Client Preferences Are Honored

Individual Preferences Job type Job type Job setting Job setting Work hours Work hours Disclosure Disclosure Role of employment specialist with employer contact Role of employment specialist with employer contact Job support Job support

5: Benefits Planning Is Offered

Benefits Planning Offered to all clients seeking work Offered to all clients seeking work Provided by specially trained staff Provided by specially trained staff Impact on Social Security, Medicaid, other government entitlements Impact on Social Security, Medicaid, other government entitlements Offered when making changes in work hours and pay Offered when making changes in work hours and pay

6: The Job Search Occurs Rapidly

Rapid Job Search Avoid lengthy assessment, training, counseling Avoid lengthy assessment, training, counseling Face-to-face contact with employers within 30 days Face-to-face contact with employers within 30 days Investigate job types and settings Investigate job types and settings Employer contacts based on person’s preferences, strengths Employer contacts based on person’s preferences, strengths

7: Systematic Job Development

Develop Employer Relationships Employment specialists meet with employers over time to learn about business needs and positions. Employment specialists meet with employers over time to learn about business needs and positions. Specialists make at least 6 contacts with hiring managers each week. Specialists make at least 6 contacts with hiring managers each week.

Job Finding Techniques 1. First meeting, schedule a 15- minute appointment. 2. Meet with employer for 15 minutes to learn about the business and hiring preferences. 3. Go back to talk about the strengths of a person who would be a good fit for that business. Ask for an interview.

Job Finding Techniques Find out about the employer’s needs: 1. “What positions do you have that I might not know about?” 2. “What type of person tends to be successful here?” 3. “What is a typical day like for a hostess at your restaurant?”

8: Job Supports Are Continuous

Individualized Job Support Individualized support Individualized support Employer support Employer support Career development Career development Enhanced team support Enhanced team support

Ongoing Job Support Face-to-face before job start Face-to-face before job start Day of job start Day of job start Weekly contact Weekly contact Step down and graduation Step down and graduation

Resources – fidelity scale/manual – tools, tracking forms – family advocacy – videos, posters, newsletters – ASK

Resources Supported Employment - Applying the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model to Help Clients Compete in the Workforce - Swanson and Becker. Hazelden, 2011 Supported Employment - Applying the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model to Help Clients Compete in the Workforce - Swanson and Becker. Hazelden, 2011