Increasing Financial Self Sufficiency Suzanne F. Clifford NAMI National Board & Former Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana June 2008

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Panel Moderator: Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Board of Directors & Former Mental Health Director of Indiana Robert Drake, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Hanover, NH Elliott Steele, Executive Director, Vincent House, Pinellas Park, FL Rand Pierce, Vincent House, Pinellas Park, FL

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Alignment with the NAMI Strategic Plan: Goal 3F NAMI is leading a multi-faceted campaign to facilitate employment and financial independence for persons with serious mental illness. Target: Increase focus on employment in the next Grading the States report Target: Convene panel of experts to advise NAMI on steps that can be taken in federal and state policies to increase access to meaningful employment options for people with serious mental illness and issue recommendations from convened panel

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Benefits of a Good Job Match Increases self-esteem Provides structure Enhances social integration and friendships Encourages the person to think about something other than mental illness Improves fiscal stability Increases society’s understanding of mental illness and support for mental health treatment

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Barriers to Employment Perceived and actual cash, housing and healthcare disincentives Lack of access to affordable healthcare Lack of follow-along services to help people keep a job Discrimination Lack of outreach to businesses Criminalization of mental illness Gaps in employment

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Financial Stability Policy Issues: Healthcare Healthcare work disincentives Lack of affordable healthcare creates a dependence on Medicaid and Medicaid If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counseling People can earn money up to a certain point without losing their Medicaid & Medicare eligibility (Get benefits counseling!) Advocate for “Medicaid Buy-In” in your state if you do not have it Improvements are needed!!!!

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Financial Stability Policy Issues: Cash Cash work disincentives – Social Security Work with your service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counseling More federal improvements are needed!

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June Financial Stability Policy Issues: Housing & Criminalization Housing work disincentives – HUD Criminalization of mental illness Arrests and convictions on a person’s record significantly limit employment and housing opportunities Diversion programs are critical and have a high human and economical impact re: employment

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June How can NAMI advocate for policies that promote financial stability? Reinforce the importance of employment at national, state and local levels Reduce state and federal healthcare work disincentives (Medicaid, increase access to affordable healthcare, etc.) Reduce federal cash and housing work disincentives Increase federal resources for benefits counseling Ensure that your state legislature passes “Medicaid Buy-In”

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June What can NAMI member do? Advocate about employment Work with your local service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program Refer people who receive SSI or SSDI to free benefits counseling Outreach to businesses Partner with Vocational Rehabilitation to streamline their processes and increase their understanding of mental illness Foster peer support focused on employment Increase the use of asset building techniques Promote a recovery-oriented culture and system that helps people reach their financial stability goals