1. How Working is Promoting Recovery for People with Mental Illness Please stay on the line. The webinar will begin shortly. Download the PPT here: AUDIO: Toll Free Number: (855) Access code: Contact if you experience technical difficulties. This webinar is being recorded and will be available for viewing within 1 week of this presentation.

2. How Working is Promoting Recovery for People with Mental Illness
Presented BY:
SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center
Policy Research Associates, Inc.
Under Contract TO:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

3. Welcome! Kristin Lupfer, LmSW, Project Director,
SOAR Technical Assistance Center,
Policy Research associates, Delmar, New York

4. Webinar Instructions Muting Recording availability
Downloading documents
Evaluation
webinar-employment

5. Learning Objectives
Define IPS and describe core principals of IPS (Individual Placement and Support) model.
Understand how IPS model can support individuals with mental illness who have experienced homelessness seek competitive employment in the community.
Provide an example of a SOAR program offering job supports.

6. Agenda
IPS Model: Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center (PRC), Lebanon, NH
Robert E. Drake, M.D., PhD., Professor of Psychiatry and of Community and Family Medicine
Deborah R. Becker, M.Ed., CRC, Director of Supported Employment Programs at the PRC, Associate Research Professor
SOAR Program: Columbus House Inc. / Pathways to Independence, New Haven, CT
Thomas Fortuna, Pathways to Independence Manager
Carl Reynolds, Pathways to Independence Employment Services Coordinator
Questions & Answers
Facilitated by SOAR TA Center Staff

7. Poll Question #1
Does your SOAR program connect SSA beneficiaries to employment support services?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Unsure
d. Making plans to in the future

8. Supporting Individuals Experiencing Homelessness with Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
Robert Drake, Professor & Deborah Becker, Associate Research Professor
Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
Hanover, New Hampshire

9. Quotes from Workers
“When I am working, the noise in my head gets quieter.”
“Working gives me a reason to get up in the morning. And that is the best medicine.”
“The money is nice but I feel good telling my son that I have to go to work tomorrow.”

10. Four Main Points Many people with serious mental illness want to work
People with serious mental illness can work
IPS Supported Employment Fidelity Scale is a program road map
Work is everybody’s business

11. Recovery and Work Work promotes recovery and wellness- Emotional
Financial
Social
Spiritual
Physical
Intellectual
Environmental
M. Swarbrick, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

12. Competitive Employment
Say they want to work: %
Are currently working: <15%
Are receiving supported employment: <2%

13. IPS Principles Open to anyone who wants to work
Individualized long-term supports
Focus on competitive employment
Integrated with treatment
Benefits counseling included
Rapid job search
Systematic job development
Client preferences guide

14. 1. Every Person Interested in Work is Eligible
Zero exclusion
People with justice system involvement
People who have experienced homelessness
People with co-occurring substance use disorders
Encouragement about work and school

15. 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?”

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

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

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

19. Competitive Jobs Landscaper Childcare Worker Machine Operator
Data Entry
Photographer
Deli Meat Cutter
Receptionist
Grocery Bagger/Carriage Attendant
Reporter
Housekeeper
Sales Clerk
Dishwasher
Security officer
Welder
Baker’s assistant

20. 3. Employment Services & Mental Health Services are Integrated
Team approach
Help team think about work/school for others
Connect with Vocational Rehabilitation
Connect with families

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

22. Work is Everybody’s Business
Team members share:
Person strengths, experiences, wellness strategies
Ideas for job types
Job leads
Job support

23. 4. Preferences Are Honored

24. Individual Preferences
Job type
Job setting
Work hours
Disclosure
Role of employment specialist with employer contact
Job support
Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center

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

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

27. 7. Systematic Job Development
Develop employer relationships.
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.

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

29. 8. Job Supports are Continuous
Ongoing as needed and desired
Individualized

30. Ongoing Job Support Face-to-face before job start Day of job start
Weekly contact
Transition out of IPS

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

32. IPS Supported Employment Guidelines
8 Practice Principles
25-item Fidelity Scale

33. Wellness and Recovery
Wellness moves the focus from thinking one needs treatment forever to capitalizing on the strengths and abilities of the individual and his/her family and community.
M. Swarbrick, CSPNJ

34. What People Say
“When you are working, you are part of the real world. You feel connected. Having a job gives me stability. I have something to look forward to every day.”
“In the past, people might have used labels to describe me such as ‘homeless,’ ‘mentally ill,’ and ‘welfare mother.’ Now my titles are ‘financial administrator,’ ‘college student,’ and ‘working mom.’”

35. Resources http://www.dartmouthips.org ASK
Online courses for practitioners and supervisors
IPS Supported Employment: A Practical Guide

36. A Few Facts 70% of people with mental health issues want to work
IPS can help 60% or more to become competitively employed
Most people work about half-time, like their jobs, and benefit in many ways from employment

37. Controlled Trials RCTs are gold standard in medical research
22 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) of Individual Placement and Support (IPS):
Best evidence available on effectiveness
RCTs are gold standard in medical research

38. Controlled Trials: Findings

39. Overall Findings for 22 RCTs
Every study showed a significant advantage for IPS
Mean competitive employment rates:
56% for IPS
23% for controls

40. Homelessness Baltimore study Washington, DC study
Majority recently homeless
27% vs. 7% employment
Washington, DC study
71% vs. 9% employment
Combined NH, DC, CT, and IN studies
Over 20% recently homeless
Employment outcomes unrelated

41. 2 Long-Term IPS Studies

42. IPS Is Effective for a Wide Variety of Subgroups
PTSD diagnosis
Homeless
Mental illness + substance use
Criminal justice history
Disability beneficiaries
Older adults
African American
First episode of psychosis
Hispanic

43. Contact Information
Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center
Lebanon, NH
(603)
Robert E. Drake, M.D., PhD.
Professor of Psychiatry and of Community and Family Medicine
Deborah R. Becker, M.Ed., CRC
Director of Supported Employment Programs at the PRC, Associate Research Professor

44. Poll Question #2 What is one myth our presenters debunked?
a. Most people work about half-time, like their jobs, and benefit in many ways from employment
b. Most people with mental illness do not wish to work.
c. IPS can help 60% or more to become competitively employed

45. Income=Empowerment: The Pathways to Independence Program
Thomas Fortuna, Manager and
Carl Reynolds, Employment Services Coordinator
Columbus House Inc./Pathways to Independence
New Haven, Connecticut

46. Pathways to Independence
Combining SOAR & employment incomes with a holistic approach to recovery, housing and community reintegration.
Using holistic, recovery-based incentives to support individuals to engage in employment.
Targeted services for individuals experiencing homelessness and a disabling condition.

47. Our Core Mission and Values
Mission Statement
To increase housing, income and health security for individuals who are homeless and experiencing a behavioral health and/or substance use disorder.
 Values
Pathways to Independence promotes Hope, Personal Responsibility, Education, Self-Advocacy and Support, helping to provide opportunities, skills, and the education necessary to become independent and productive.

48. Program Goals Maximize our client’s access to income
Employment and SOAR assistance (dual screening)
Employment Network: Ticket to Work
WorkFare
Provide connection to healthcare providers
Facilitate and nurture opportunities for client employment
Educational support and assistance for client’s financial stability and improved quality of life
Identify and secure housing options in the community

49. Program Components Housing Services Employment Services
Financial Literacy, Employment Training (EEC)
Enrollment into Benefit Programs (SOAR)
Representative Payee
Healthcare Referral
**All Individuals Served Participate in EEC**

50. Employment Enrichment Center
PTI
Employment Enrichment Center
Case Manage-ment
Income
Housing

51. Employment and Enrichment Center
Funded in part by the United Way of Greater New Haven
Through Education, Enrichment and Employment, graduates will discover:
Greater Self-Esteem
Stronger Recovery from addiction
Better control of psychiatric symptoms
Greater Confidence
Greater Life Satisfaction
Enjoy a life worth living
Have a life worth saving
Instructors are certified Recovery Support Specialists
Also facilitated through a relationship with a local community bank: START

52. Employment and Enrichment Center Curriculum: 90 hours, classes include:
Intro to Computers
Key Train, ONET training & job identification
Math, Reading & Comprehension
Wellness & Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
Teambuilding
Starting Your Own Business
Resume, Cover Letter Writing and Interviewing Skills
And More!
Housing Education
Employment and Search Tools

53. Extra Curricular Classes
Regular Classes: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Jobs Club: Tuesday and Thursday 1 PM to 3 PM
Focus on interviewing skills, online applications, and gaining field work/experience outside of the classroom
Computer Lab: Monday and Friday 1 PM to 3 PM
Housing Resource Class: Wednesday 1 PM – 3 PM
Resources on tenancy, fair housings rights, etc.

54. Additional Resources Provided
Interview clothing including suits and shoes
Transportation including bus passes and rides
Gift cards for personal necessities
Consistent phone and computer access to streamline the job-hunt process

55. Dress for a Successful Interview!

56. The End Result=Employment
Resume
Working Cell Phone
Cover Letter
Direct Connection to a Local Banking Resource
Working Account
Interview Practice
Interview Clothing

57. Community Partners Career Resources / Connect To Work
START Community Bank
Social Security Administration
New Haven One Stop / CT Labor Office
Cornell Scott Hill Health Center (local community health center)
STRIVE
Veteran’s Affairs
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

58. Columbus House WORKFARE Want a Job? We Can Help!
Want a Job?
We Can Help!
WORKFARE trains people facing homelessness for careers in the custodial trades and the food service industry so they can obtain stable full time employment.
Learn how to write a résumé and cover letter, attend interviews, develop a personalized Action Plan, and gain basic computer and job-search tools.
Free Hands-On training at Columbus House facilities, where you work alongside talented professional staff and volunteers.
Great for Ticket to Work program participants!

59. WorkFare Benefits
Certificates: Receive a Certificate valued by employers to show you have successfully completed the training.
Job Search: Meet with job search counselors, learn how to fill out applications, go to interviews, use , and find jobs on the internet and through commercial publications.
Graduate Support: Graduates may attend additional sessions for regular ongoing job advice, employment search assistance, and help with a variety of other social service resources.
Also includes a guaranteed and extended shelter bed stay for Emergency Shelter occupants

60. Employment Network (EN)
Employment Network designation
Generates revenue to support and sustain PTI
Direct connection to the SSA = Streamlined communication
Ticket to Work program
In house, collaborative resources for SSA Beneficiaries
Access to Employment & Enrichment Center, Jobs Club, Employment Specialist Services

61. PTI Program Results: Looking Back
SOAR
Employment
77 applications approved over years
Over $1.5 Million in cumulative income
104 Individuals Hired and Retained
3.5 years
Over $3.5 Million in Earned Income
EEC Results:
Last 12 months
Over 3.5 years
Housed: 205 Individuals
Rep Payee: 53 Enrolled
89 Attended Initial Orientation
63 Completed the Program
31 Employment Placements
Average Wage: $10.25
67 Referred to External Programs: GED prep, occupational training, local community college enrollment

62. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
Additional Columbus House Programs
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)
Employment Services
Employment & Enrichment Center
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
Employment Services
SOAR Services
Housing Services
Case Management
Homelessness Prevention
Direct Financial Assistance

63. The Benefits of Working and Providing Support
Carl Reynolds, Employment Services Coordinator
Columbus House Inc./Pathways to Independence
New Haven, CT

64. Providing Support Peer Experience Employment Spectrum Job Developing
Employment and Training
EEC Trainings

65. Thomas Fortuna, Pathways to Independence Manager
Contact Information
Columbus House, Inc./Pathways to Independence
592 Ella T Grasso Blvd
New Haven, CT 06519
Fax
Thomas Fortuna, Pathways to Independence Manager
  ext. 2139
&
Carl Reynolds, Pathways to Independence Employment Services Coordinator
(203) ext. 2117

66. Questions and Answers Facilitated By:
SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center
Policy Research Associates, Inc.
Please type your question into the Q&A panel located underneath the participant tab, or
To ask a question by phone, please raise your hand by clicking the hand icon in the participant pod. We will unmute you so you can ask your question.

67. For More Information on SOAR
SAMHSA SOAR TA Center Delaware Avenue Delmar, New York (518) 439 – 7415
@SOARWorks