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​​ISSUE BRIEF: Employment
Successful practices for adults with mental illness.

Work helps us feel well. Employment is a major therapeutic tool, improving quality of life and reducing symptoms in those with mild to moderate to severe mental illness. The following items are important for board/commission members to understand and consider as they advise locally and as they join with CALBHB/C for statewide advocacy.

What is IPS?

Individual Placement & Support (IPS) is a successful Employment Practice as implemented in Alameda County, 20+ states and many countries.  IPS is a model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness (for example, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, depression.)  IPS is based on eight principles:

1. Competitive Employment
2. Systematic Job Development
3. Rapid Job Search
4. Integrated Services
5. Benefits Planning
6. Zero Exclusion
7. Time-Unlimited Support
8. Worker Preferences

IPS Data

• In CA, only 10% of people in the public mental health system work.
• IPS helps 50% or more of people get jobs. People are 2.5 times more likely to get a job with IPS vs. traditional rehab programs.
• People in IPS work longer stints, earn more, and are more likely to become steady workers than people in traditional programs.   

 
More at:
www.calbhbc.com/employment.html

Mental Health Cooperative Programs

CA’s Mental Health Cooperative programs are partnerships between County Mental Health agencies and the Department of Rehabilitation. These programs assist consumers find, get, and keep meaningful community employment. Programs serve over 7,000 consumers annually, resulting in over 750 successful closures annually. More than 80% of consumers with a mental health diagnosis receive vocational rehabilitation plan services when participating in the DOR Mental Health Cooperative programs. 
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​More at: MHFACTS
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Peer Provider Certification

Advocating for peer support standardization to ensure high quality care continues to be on CALBHB/C’s agenda, to include:

• Establishing core competencies that allow certified peers to work across county lines;  
• Allowing providers to make use of the federal Medi-Cal match.

 
More at: www.calbhbc.com/peer-supports.html​