Strengthening Vulnerable Populations: Innovative Employment Programs

1. Innovation, Mission Driven Programs for Vulnerable Population Susan London JVS Toronto IAJVS May 18, 2009

2. Have been providing assessment services for over 40 years – to adults, children, youth • Started assessing Toronto Social Services clients in 2006 • Since then, expanded our assessment services and referral sources • In 2007, JVS Toronto developed a program specifically for housed Streets to Homes clients

3. Federal Homelessness Partnership Initiative Fund - $269.6 million • City of Toronto - $35.58 million (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2009) • Adopted ‘housing first’ approach • Created Streets to Homes with goal to end street homelessness

4. Funded by The City of Toronto's Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI) • Participating programs in the City of Toronto: •        * Shelter, Support and Housing Administration •                  - Employability Support Team •                  - Hostels to Homes •                  - Streets to Homes •         * Toronto Social Services •                  - Ontario Works

5. Psycho-vocational Assessment, Action Planning and Research Project • Two phases of direct service to clients: • 1. Psycho-vocational assessment • practical evaluation of clients’ strengths and barriers • identifies cognitive, academic and employment aptitude levels, social & emotional functioning • 2. Action Planning • one on one sessions to assist clients in moving towards identified goals

6. Research Component: • Gain an understanding of participants involved in the program • Gain an understanding of facilitators & barriers to the program from client & service provider perspectives • Develop recommendations for future employment initiatives

7. Streets to Homes or Hostels to Homes clients are eligible • referral by worker • stable housing situation • participation commitment • sober during program sessions

8. Presenting issues: • prolonged periods of unemployment • never held a job • uncertainty regarding employment competitiveness • interrupted work or educational history • low education level • addiction, physical, mental health, emotional and/or other long-term health problems • one-to-one support and repetition needed; test anxiety • language and literacy barriers

9. 87% male - 13% female • Average age: 40 years (range 19-60 years) • half did not complete high school • 35% had some post-secondary education • 16% completed post-secondary education • *based on 38 clients from 2007

10. 2007 – Present To date, we have worked with 88 clients.

11. employment barriers cognitive challenges social relationships poverty addictions mental health physical health

13. Four ½-day Sessions & Feedback Interview: • 2 psycho-educational 2 vocational • Includes examination of: • Cognitive functioning & information processing abilities • Academic skills • Social-emotional functioning; mental health screen • Vocational aptitudes & employment interests

14. Identifies: • Client strengths • Client barriers • May result in: • Diagnoses, e.g. LD, ADHD, MID, Asperger’s • Identification of mental health challenges • Clarification of possible vocational directions

15. One-on-one sessions • Start after feedback session • Usually 1 hour in length • Up to 6 - 8 sessions • Occur over a period of 3 months

16. Worker invited to participate when appropriate • Goals stem from assessment recommendations • Action Plan used as guide • Goals set by clients • Post program, updated Plan shared with worker

17. Challenges Encountered

18. Coordinating multiple partners to create a seamless program for clients • Engaging clients’ front-line housing workers • Getting clients in the door • Getting clients in the door again - and again, and again

19. Innovation, flexibility and cooperation have proven to be key in addressing challenges

20. ‘Steering committee’ Created a solid partnership Shared vision Joint problem solving Dedicated coordinator/contact person for each agency; ongoing communication Well-developed work flow process Confirmed supports released in advance

21. Presentations to front-line staff • Lead person within each agency • Built credibility through successes

22. Downtown location Food on site Food vouchers Worker endorsement, support & accompaniment

23. More incentives! More worker support Staff ability to successfully engage the client Non-judgmental and supportive environment Team approach Flexible – e.g. rescheduling multiple times

24. Keys to success and lessons learned when working with multi-barriered clients

25. A. Partnership and Collaboration • Facilitated seamless program for clients • Resulted in creative approaches and effective problem-solving • Range of enhanced supports for clients

26. B. Conceptualization of a spectrum of employment related activities Pre-employment Pre-pre-employment

27. C. Customized program development Key was determination of client needs & finding ways to meet those needs, to maximize client success Recognition that clients need and benefit from support in multiple ways Flexibility

28. D.Inclusion of Comprehensive Psycho-vocational Assessment & Diagnosis For many clients, this resulted in increased self-understanding & self-esteem Opened access to • services, programs and funding • accommodations on the job, in training, in school

29. Multi-barriered clients present with many challenges These challenges presented us with opportunities Rewarding for JVS Toronto • Staff love working with the clients • Internal cross-program partnerships • External partnerships

30. Susan London Manager, Career Services 416.661.3010 ext. 316 JVS Toronto www.jvstoronto.org

31. Questions??? THANK YOU!