The Important Role Employment Plays In Recovery

Panel Participants:  Aminah McDonald - Worker  Peggy Darmody – Guild Incorporated, IPS Project Director  Jessica Norem – Guild Incorporated, IPS Employment Specialist  Robert Reedy, Rise Inc, Mental Health Coordinator

Aminah’s Story:  'I think this will be a good job and I got out of the food industry. I learned a lot from my last job and I know I have to have a balance between working and socializing at work'

Recovery  A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self directed life, and strive to reach full potential  Four dimensions of recovery  Health  Home  Purpose  Community  SAMHSA’s Working Definition of Recovery

Ten Guiding Principles of Recovery  Hope  Person-Driven  Many Pathways  Holistic  Peer Support  Relational  Culture  Addresses Trauma  Strengths/Responsibility  Respect -SAMHSA’s Working Definition of Recovery

P Principles of Individual Placement and Support  1. Focus on Competitive Employment  2. Eligibility is based on Client Choice  3. Integration of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services  4. Attention to Client Preferences  5. Personalized Benefits Counseling  6. Rapid Job Search  7. Systemic Job Development  8. Time-Unlimited and Individualized Support

What is a treatment team? Regular daily contact Ideally, ESs are co-located with MH Team Meet as least weekly to discuss cases & share clinical information Shared treatment plan decision making (consumer makes the final call) ESs coordinate employment plans with treatment team. Ideally one integrated case record Person Case Managers Substance Abuse specialist Psychiatric Nurse Psychologist Public VR Counselor Employment Specialist Housing Supports Rehabilitation Workers & Peer Specialists Psychiatrist Mental Health Treatment Team

Who can work?  No one can accurately predict whether a particular individual will succeed  IPS research surprised many people when it showed high numbers of people succeeding at work  Research shows wanting to work is the most important predictor of success  Talk to people about work as soon as they begin to receive services  Even if people are very ill, you can make hopeful comments: “when you go back to work…” “If you decide to get a job”

Working and Benefits  DB101 – Disability Benefits 101  mndb101.org  Work Incentives Connection   Phone: Toll-free:  Disability Linkage Line  

Resources  Dartmouth IPS Supported Employment Center  Vocational Rehabilitation Services seekers/disabilities/ seekers/disabilities/

“ The Power of Work “I finally got a job doing what I want to do and I don’t want to always have benefits. I am pumped.” “This job is exactly what I was looking for. I am excited to start and have a job.” “This is really good. I like seeing results when things are a mess”