The Midtown Project

1. The Midtown Project A Collaboration Between Midtown Community Mental Health Center & Vocational Rehabilitation

2. Evidence Based Practices: Supported Employment • Eligibility is based on consumer choice • Supported employment is integrated with treatment • Competitive employment is the goal. • Job search starts soon after a consumer expresses interest in working. • Follow-Along supports are continuous • Consumer preferences are important

3. What is Most Critical? • The following components are predictive of better employment outcomes: • Focus on competitive employment • Rapid job searches • Jobs tailored to individuals • Time unlimited follow-along supports • Integration of supported employment and mental health services • Zero exclusion criteria

4. Homelessness and Employment • Employment Outreach • Challenge Traditional Concepts of Readiness • Pay Attention to Recovery • Employ Creative Goal-Setting and Redefine Failure • Job Development & Placement • Managing Transition to Work

5. Step 1: The Problem • Indianapolis Mental Health and Employment System of Care • Focus of collaboration is employment for people with mental illness. • Barriers to employment for people with mental illness. • Most Significant Barrier? • Vocational Rehabilitation!

6. Step 2: The Challenge • Is there validity to the perceptions? • In January 2006 it took an average of 39 days from referral to VR to referral back to Midtown for Employment Services. • What information does the VR Counselor need in order to make an eligibility determination?

7. Step 3: Systems Change • Relationship Building • Flexibility • Communication, Communication, Communication! • Customer Focused • We serve the needs of the individual, as opposed to the agency we represent.

8. Getting Started • Meeting Regularly • Midtown Orientation to VR • VR Counselor went through Midtown New Employee Orientation • Logistics • Office Space, Computer, Printer, Telephone, Mailbox, VR Access to IRIS • Schedule • What day will the VR Counselor be at Midtown? • How many applications per day are feasible? • How to Minimize “No Shows” • Including Last Minute Substitutions

9. Coordination of the Process • Identify a “Point of Contact” at the Mental Health Center • Prior to Intake Develop: • Interview Schedule • Collateral Information • Social Security Verification • VR Counselor Certifies Eligibility • VR Counselor schedules eligible customers for first meeting with Employment Specialist to start Milestone 1.

10. The Domino Effect • Referral sources expand to include: • ACT Teams • Card Shop • Drop In Center • Midtown Crossing awarded $3000 grant • Grant was written by consumers, and provided a 3 module training on getting and keeping jobs • Modules taught by working consumers

11. Domino Effect (Continued) • Other Community Mental Health Centers serving Marion County had similar systems set up with VR within 5 months following the launch of the Midtown Project. • Two Sub-Committees of the Mental Health System of Care came together to develop a “Best Practice” collaboration manual and a training manual for VR Counselors and Mental Health Providers.

12. CENI Grant • Consumers: • Wrote Grant • Provided Employment Support to Other Consumers • Developed & Presented Workshop and Modules • Developed a Clothing Allowance Program

13. Outcomes • Reduction in number of days between referral to VR and back to Midtown • Increase in “Status 26” closures despite staff shortages • 13 in FFY 2005-2006 • 22 in FFY 2006-2007 • Peer support for maintaining employment • Close collaboration between VR Counselor and Employment Specialist.

14. Benefits • More timely services • Increased job placements • VR Counselor becomes “Mental Health Specialist” • Teamwork • Mutual Respect