SHIELDS Helps Adults with Mental Illness Using IPS Employment Model

People with mental illness have many strengths, talents, and abilities including the ability and motivation to work.  Work is an important part of the recovery process for many clients.  Research has shown that 70% of adults with a severe mental illness desire work and 60% or more of adults with mental illness can be successful at work with support.  Supported employment (SE) for people with severe mental illness is an evidence based practice approach to vocational rehabilitation that has consistently proven to be more effective than traditional approaches.

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a supported employment model (developed by Robert Drake and Deborah Becker from Dartmouth College) that gives people with mental illness the help needed to work successfully at competitive jobs. 

There is strong evidence that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is the most effective method of helping people with severe mental health problems to achieve sustainable competitive employment. It consists of intensive, individual support, rapid job search followed by placement in paid employment, and time-unlimited in-work support for both the employee and the employer.

There are 7 basic principles of IPS supported employment model:

1. Zero Exclusion: Clients with any type of condition may be successful at work.  Symptoms, work history, substance abuse, cognitive impairment and legal history do not inhibit a client from being successful at obtaining work.  The only criteria necessary is that the client states that they want to work.
2. Integration of Mental Health and Employment Services: All staff including, GAIN workers, provide services as a team including weekly meetings to discuss employment for IPS clients as well as  clients’ applicable employment benefits. 
3. Employment Needs To Be Competitive: Part time or full time, jobs must pay at least minimum wage with the same pay and benefits as anyone else in that position.
4. Benefits Planning: A main concern of clients wanting to take advantage of IPS is the loss of social security and/or Medicaid benefits. SHIELDS encourages our clients to discuss how employment will affect their cash disbursement with their GAIN and EW workers.
5. Rapid Job Search: SHIELDS encourages quick initiation of face-to-face contact with potential employers. A notable difference between SE and regular vocational support is that the worker meets with employers and develops a network of contacts to connect clients with possible job opportunities.  It is based on client interests, and not on the idea of “I just want a job, any job.”  This is what really sets SE apart from other vocational models.  In fact, a lot of the SE training is focused on how to talk with employers, to gather information on local businesses, see what they need, and be able to have the relationship to contact the employer and let them know that when we might have a good fit. 
6. Follow Along Supports: Once a client is hired by an employer, follow along supports are initiated.  These include any support a client may need in their employment. (i.e., transportation issues, special circumstances, more job training, certification needs, etc.)
7. Client Preferences Are Honored: A paramount aspect of the IPS component, SHIELDS focuses on finding employment based on the preference of the individual and not on a “I’ll take any job” paradigm. While preferential employment opportunities might be limited, the ideal is for participants to acquire employment in a field of their own choosing or successful enrollment in GAIN approved certification classes that will help them reach their employment goals. 

Research has shown that with the right type and amount of support, people with mental illness can work successfully.  However, for many, the support needed has not been available so employment rates for people with mental illness are low.  Nearly 70% of people with a serious and persistent mental illness want to work.  But nationally, only 10-20% of people with serious and persistent mental illness have paid, competitive jobs.

SHIELDS CalWORKS Mental Health and General Opportunities for Work (GROW) programs are dedicated to helping individuals affected by mental illness gain competitive employment by supporting the seven basic principles of IPS and developing relationships with local employers as well as identify individuals that might be a good fit for potential openings. SE Specialists focus on interviewing skills, creating individualized job plans, contacting employers and follow-along support as well as helping people successfully enroll in GAIN approved certification courses. Additionally, keeping in line with SHIELDS commitment to Family Centered Treatment, SHIELDS focuses on incorporating family members into client’s SE component of treatment.

For more information about Individual Placement and Support (IPS), CalWORKs Mental Health or GROW programs, please contact Jonathan Ousley at jousley@shieldsforfamilies.org