This article is meant to serve as a practical guide to the various vocational alternatives currently in use in the psychiatric rehabilitation field. It presents both benefits and drawbacks to the service recipient, o f each o f the models described. A perspective is offered on some parallel developments in employment services for people with mental illness and those with developmental disabilities. Finally, consideration is given to using links with the public Vocational Rehabilitation system as part o f the array o f vocational options presented to clients o f rehabilitation service organizations.

This article presents the authors' suggestions on practical marketing, job development, and accommodation techniques as well as pitfalls to avoid in helping people with psychiatric disabilities find employment and careers in the community. The article also presents the theoretical underpinnings for the concrete “How To's” offered. Concepts discussed include identifying the customer, taking a “feature-benefit” and a customer service approach to marketing, creating a decision tree for disclosure of disability, and outlining effective strategies for countering objections raised by employers.

Abstract[Excerpt] This article describes some of the lessons learned in the implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) as it relates to people with psychiatric disabilities. It attempts to articulate some of the inherent difficulties faced in serving these individuals within the welfare system as well as how the established strengths of each system can inform the other's efforts. The philosophy concerning work for clients of the welfare and mental health systems differ. Each system has developed separately, and they do not easily integrate their differing philosophies and goals. At the client level, this lack of consistency presents obvious coordination barriers. At the system level, examination of practice and the underlying philosophy of each provides incentives for cross-training and policy changes. Two case studies describe the identification of issues, opportunities, and challenges to providing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services to individuals with mental illness. These lessons can provide guidance to mental health systems as they strive to implement evidence-based employment practices and provide welfare entities with policy direction as a result of a widening knowledge base. Specific policy and program innovations in a county and in a state are highlighted to demonstrate these issues. Finally, the authors raise areas for further inquiry and reflection. This article describes some of the lessons learned in the implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) as it relates to people with psychiatric disabilities. It attempts to articulate some of the inherent difficulties faced in serving these individuals within the welfare system as well as how the established strengths of each system can inform the other's efforts. The philosophy concerning work for clients of the welfare and mental health systems differ. Each system has developed separately, and they do not easily integrate their differing philosophies and goals. At the client level, this lack of consistency presents obvious coordination barriers. At the system level, examination of practice and the underlying philosophy of each provides incentives for cross-training and policy changes. Two case studies describe the identification of issues, opportunities, and challenges to providing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services to individuals with mental illness. These lessons can provide guidance to mental health systems as they strive to implement evidence-based employment practices and provide welfare entities with policy direction as a result of a widening knowledge base. Specific policy and program innovations in a county and in a state are highlighted to demonstrate these issues. Finally, the authors raise areas for further inquiry and reflection.

Abstract[Excerpt] Persons with significant disabilities, especially those with problems relating to mental illness and/or substance abuse, face numerous challenges in securing employment. The program described in this article, Hope, Vocations, Progress (HVP) of Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) in Vancouver, WA, represents an aggressive strategy to facilitate the entry into work for persons with significant disabilities of mental illness and/or substance abuse, who also are in need of shelter, transitional housing, and other life supports. HVP was funded under a Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) demonstration grant and includes as its key partners a comprehensive community mental health center, a transitional housing program for women who are exoffenders, and a homeless shelter system. The program design is examined and program results through 39 months of a 60-month cycle are provided. The author examines the impact of the program to date, its strengths and weaknesses in relation to evidence-based practice models of supported employment, and makes recommendations for further areas of research and inquiry. KeywordsEx-offenders, Homelessness, Substance abuse, Supported employment Persons with significant disabilities, especially those with problems relating to mental illness and/or substance abuse, face numerous challenges in securing employment. The program described in this article, Hope, Vocations, Progress (HVP) of Columbia River Mental Health Services (CRMHS) in Vancouver, WA, represents an aggressive strategy to facilitate the entry into work for persons with significant disabilities of mental illness and/or substance abuse, who also are in need of shelter, transitional housing, and other life supports. HVP was funded under a Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) demonstration grant and includes as its key partners a comprehensive community mental health center, a transitional housing program for women who are exoffenders, and a homeless shelter system. The program design is examined and program results through 39 months of a 60-month cycle are provided. The author examines the impact of the program to date, its strengths and weaknesses in relation to evidence-based practice models of supported employment, and makes recommendations for further areas of research and inquiry.