1. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT The Power of Peer Support Norine Jaloway Gill, CRC Martha Garber, M.Ed., LPC APSE Conference, June 2012

2. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Objectives To discuss the issues around employment for persons with mental health disabilities To review the JOB FIT model To describe the benefits of Peer Support promoting independence and employment

3. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Why work? $$$ Income allows more choices: – Where we live; How we live; and How we play Community benefit – taxes, economy, etc.

4. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Employment Facilitates Recovery Large part of our identity Better self-esteem Connects us to others (natural supports) Related to hopes, dreams, aspirations

5. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT What people want 60 to 70% of people with severe mental illness would like to work in competitive employment Yet, 85% are unemployed Less than 25% with severe mental illness receive vocational assistance

6. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT JOB FIT, an employment service and an opportunity

7. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Job Fit model Supported employment Peer support Research Student training

8. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Role of Peer Support 1.Promoting personal growth 2.Wellness 3.Practical Support

9. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Promoting personal growth  Advocacy  Self-advocacy and self-determination  Short-Term Goal Setting  Long-Term Goals Setting

10. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Wellness  WRAP – Wellness Recovery Action Plan  Health education  Physical education  Stress reduction/relaxation response  Supporting their Wellness Goals

11. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Practical Support  Resources  External Supports  Real Life Applications

12. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Employment Issues: 1.Stigma 2.Disincentives – financial and benefits 3.Access to services that support work – short and long term

13. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT I. Stigma Public Self Families Providers Employers

14. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Stigma results in misconceptions Violent and unpredictable Weakness in character Cannot tolerate stress Second rate workers

15. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Results of Stigma Prejudice and Labeling Hopelessness and low self esteem Isolation from family, work and community Reduces opportunity and resources Deny illness and/or treatment Harassment and/or physical violence

16. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Widely held beliefs Employment is not advisable for most people with a psychiatric diagnosis. “They” are not employable. “They” don’t want to work. Work is a therapy.

17. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT II. Disincentives: Medical benefits Supplemental benefits Housing options Fear Discouragement

18. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Best Practice Financial planning and disability benefits counseling who are dependent on SSI or SSDI Involve family and/or significant others in supporting work efforts Providers should assist consumers to deal with difficult issues for reasonable accommodations, disclosure, etc.

19. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT III. Access to Employment Supports Time limited vs. ongoing supports Natural and paid supports Peer supports valued in the structure of employment

20. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT “You do not have to be well to go to work; sometimes you go to work to get well.” Richard Pimentel, 1990

21. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Supported Employment 20 year history Higher employment rates Lower use of mental health services Supports recovery

22. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Supported Employment Key Principles: 1.Integrating vocational services with mental health services. 2.Offering consumers competitive employment in socially integrated settings. 3.Job development must respect consumer choice and career preferences.

23. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Supported Employment 4.Rapid job placement completed as soon as possible after program entry. 5.Providing on-going vocational support services. 6.Including peer support services for consumers. Cook, Loff, Blyler et.al., Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005

24. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Issues Job classification peer support Expectations/acceptance of peer support role Funding – using available resources

25. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT “Mental illness is not a full time job” - SAMSHA website 2009

26. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Resources National Alliance on Mental Illness – www.nami.org www.nami.org Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – www.samhsa.govwww.samhsa.gov Rethink - www.rethink.orgwww.rethink.org Bring Change to Mind – www.bringchange2mind.org www.bringchange2mind.org

27. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT Martha Garber, M.Ed., LPC martha.garber@unt.edu Norine Jaloway Gill norine.gill@unt.edu 940-565-4000 http://www.pacs.unt.edu/jobfit Contact Information

28. WORKPLACE INCLUSION & SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT - “If work makes people with mental illness sick, what does unemployment, poverty, and social isolation cause?” - Joseph Marrone and Ed Golowka, 1999