1. as a Strategy for Job Retention
Using Wellness Recovery Action Plan WRAP®
as a Strategy for Job Retention
OSECE Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
Supported Employment (SE)
Annual Statewide Conference
October 5-6, 2016
At the Oregon Garden Resort
Silverton, Oregon
Joan Keenen, CTRS

2. Welcome Introduction Housekeeping Session learning objectives
Agenda review
Handouts

3. Wellness Recovery Action Plan
What is WRAP?
How was it developed?
Who can benefit from using WRAP?
How can I use WRAP as a strategy for Job Retention?
221

4. History: There are Four Parts to the study of Wellness:
1. Key Recovery Concepts…
Hope
Personal Responsibility
Education
Self Advocacy
Support
2. Wellness Toolbox
3. Wellness Recovery Action Planning
4. Recovery Topics 2 4

5. Dig Deeper: Key Recovery Concepts
Hope
Personal Responsibility
Education
Self-Advocacy
Support 6

6. There is Much to Hope For!
We can get well and stay well for long periods of time. We can work towards and meet our goals! We can lead a happy and productive life. 8

7. There is much to Hope For!
We don’t need, nor will we benefit from, dire predictions about our future.

8. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are the expert on ourselves!
We know what we want and need!
It is up to Us to take personal responsibility for our own wellness and our own life! 11

9. Personal Responsibility
Sometimes this means taking back control that we have lost in the past.
Those of us who take back this
responsibility achieve the highest levels of
Wellness, Happiness and Life Satisfaction

10. EDUCATION
Learn all We can about ourselves so we can make good decisions about:
Treatment
Lifestyle
Career
Relationships
Living Space
Leisure Time Activities
All Aspects of Our Life 13

11. Education We can educate ourselves by:
Attending workshops, lectures and support groups.
Considering all perspectives and deciding which ones feel right to us.
Reviewing educational resources(articles, books, newsletters, CD’s and DVD’s)
Talking to others who have similar experiences and to those who have expertise in the field.

12. SELF-ADVOCACY Become a strong advocate for ourselves. This means:
“Going for it” with courage,
persistence and determination;
Expressing ourselves clearly and
calmly until our needs are met. 17

13. Self-Advocacy Believe in ourselves Know our rights (see the handout)
“Personal Bill of Rights”
Set personal and professional
goals and work towards meeting
them by: Getting the facts
Planning strategy
Gathering support
Targeting our efforts

14. SUPPORT
Support from family, friends and co-workers, are definitely helpful. Being effectively supported will help us feel better and enrich our lives.
We can call on our supporters when we need or want…..
Someone to talk to
Companionship
Help figuring things out and making decisions
Someone to support us when we have less wellness 29

15. Supporters or Support Systems Are People or Systems Who:
Care about us
Empathize with us
Affirm and validate our experiences
Accept us as we are
The most valuable thing a supporter can do for you (or you can do for them) is to LISTEN
A good supporter knows that unasked advise, criticism and judgments won’t support us.

16. WRAP®
Wellness
Recovery
Action
Plan®
219

17. WRAP Includes: Wellness Toolbox Daily Maintenance Plan (3 parts)
Triggers and Action Plan
Early Warning Signs and Action Plan
When Things are Breaking Down and Action Plan
Crisis Planning
Post Crisis Planning
220

18. WRAP Will: Help us stay as well as possible
Help us to keep track of difficult feelings and behaviors and develop action plans to help us feel better.
Tell others what to do for us when we feel so badly we can’t make decisions, take care of ourselves or keep safe.

19. We Can Use WRAP
As a tool to help insure our success if we are planning to make changes in our life like,
Getting a job
Changing jobs
Increase work hours
Taking on more responsibilities
Getting more education or training
Moving
Beginning or leaving a relationship
Loss of a loved one

20. Using WRAP as a Strategy for Job Retention
Developing a special WRAP for Work Related Issues
What’s my dream job?
How many hours a day and how many days a week can I realistically work?
Why do I want to work?
What will I do to take care of myself while I’m working?
Do I have transportation to get to a job site?

21. We Begin our WRAP® by: Developing a list of our Wellness Tools
Wellness tools are things we do to keep ourselves well.
Things we do to support ourselves feel better when we are not feeling well.
We may have discovered wellness tools ourselves or learned about them from others.
Most of them are simple, safe, and free.
106

22. Common Wellness Tools Walking with a friend Shopping at thrift shops
Prayer
Feeling the sun on my face
Listening to music
Connecting with others
Playing with my dogs
Reading
Puzzles
Gardening
108

23. Wellness Tools for Work Related Issues
Go to bed by 9:00pm on work nights
Prepare health lunch and snacks the night before
Get my clothes ready the night before
Go outside during lunch break
Get up and take a walk, stretch and drink water
Do exchange listening with a supporter
Take a personal day
Have positive affirmations near my desk

24. Daily Maintenance Plans
Includes three lists:
What am I like when I’m well?
What I need to do daily to stay well.
What I might do or would consider doing to stay well.
240

25. Daily Maintenance list
We make a list of the words that describe us when we are well. Some words that others have used to describe when I’m feeling well are:
Happy Outgoing Optimistic Energetic Content Responsible
Giving Excited Motivated
Work Related:
I get to work on time
I am flexible and easy to work with
I enjoy my work
I feel self confident
I can accept kind criticism

26. Daily Maintenance List
We list all the things we need to do every day to keep feeling well.
Examples (Be Specific):
Get up at 7:00 AM
Eat three healthy meals
Drink at least six glasses of water
Exercise for 30 minutes
Take my medication and vitamins
Work related:
Leave work on time
Take lunch break
Set out my clothes the night before
246

27. Daily Maintenance List
Make a reminder list for things you might choose to do:
Get more sleep
Buy groceries
Schedule appointments
Pay the bills
Take a bike ride
Work Related:
Put gas in my car
Do laundry
Check in with my supervisor
Buy a bus pass
252

28. Triggers
External events or circumstances that make us feel very uncomfortable. Triggers happen to everyone, they are normal reactions to life events. If we are aware of our triggers we can plan for them or avoid them.
Work related triggers happen at work, or are in some way work-related.
254

29. Triggers Examples: Difficult relationships
Anniversary of loss or trauma
Large crowds
Long lines
Unexpected bill
Work Related Triggers
Being late
Equipment break downs
Having a disagreement with a co-worker
Stigma
Being passed over for a promotion
266

30. Triggers Action Plan
We develop a list of wellness tools we can use to help get us through these difficult times when a triggers event has occurred, it will keep us from feeling worse.
Sample action plan:
Write in my journal
Go for a walk
Make a gratitude list
Do something special for someone else
Trigger Action Plan for Work Related Issues
Take a day off
Speak to co-workers
Take a five minute break and do some deep breathing
Arrange to meet up with a supporter after work
259

31. Early Warning Signs
Early Warning Signs are changes in the way we think, act or feel.
They are subtle signs of change that let us know we need to take action to avoid a worsening situations.
Examples:
Feelings of hopelessness
Aches and pains
Avoiding others or isolating
Being uncaring or indecisive
Early Warning signs for Work Related Issues
Not looking forward to going to work
Irritability
Messy work space
Inability to concentrate
263

32. Early Warning Signs Action Plan
Simple interventions with wellness tools at this time can prevent us from feeling worse and help us to return to wellness more quickly.
Sample Plan:
Surround myself with loving, affirming people
Get plenty of rest
Journal out loud with a supporter
Do a focusing exercise or activity
Sample Action Plan for Work Related EWS
Ask for help with specific tasks
Negotiate job changes
Take a personal day
268

33. When Things are Breaking Down or Getting Worse
In spite of our best efforts we may begin to feel even worse. The following signs indicate we are feeling much worse.
Examples:
Irrational responses to others
Racing thoughts, unusual behaviors
Taking anger out on others
Work Related
Taking unsafe risks
Making many mistakes
Miss the bus for 3 days in a row
Feeling like I’m dragging myself to work
272

34. When Things are Breaking Down or Getting Worse Action Plan
The plan now needs to be clear and very directive, with many things we “must” do and fewer choices.
Sample plan:
Call my closest supporters and ask for support
Arrange for someone to stay with me
Call my doctor or therapist and arrange an appointment
Work Related Action Plan:
Discuss situation with employer
Arrange to take at least 3 days off
Each day spend at least 2 hours doing things I enjoy
Consider making a job change
278

35. Crisis Planning
In spite of our best planning and assertive action, we may find ourselves in a crisis situation where others will need to take over responsibility for our care. We develop this plan slowly when we are well.
Our Crisis Plan will instruct others about how to care and support us when we are less well.
It keeps us in control even when it seems like things are out of control.
This part of WRAP® is different from other parts of the plan because we give it to others so they have it when needed.
281

36. Crisis Planning It Includes: “What we are like when we are well”.
Signs that Supporters need to take over.
Supporters,
Medications:
5. Treatments:
Home/Community Care/Respite Center:
Treatment Facilities:
Help from others:
Indicators my supporters no longer need to use the plan
Post Crisis Planning has 2 Parts:
Addressing issues
Creating a Time table for resuming responsibilities
285

37. Work Related Crisis Planning
Includes instructions that will tell our supporters to contact our employer.
Who to contact and contact information
What to tell your employer
Calling employer with updates
Work Related Post Crisis Planning:
Carefully consider if, when and how we will return to work.
Do I need to work fewer hours?
Is there something about work that needs to change?
What’s my timetable for returning to work?

38. Thank You
We have completed a review of WRAP and how developing a WRAP for work related issues can be a strategy for job retention.
Are there any Questions?
For more information go to:
Contact information: