EARNING A LIVING: WORK, MENTAL ILLNESS AND RECOVERY

Johnson & Johnson-Dartmouth Family Advocacy Project for IPS

Supported EmploymentNAMI NATIONAL

September 5, 2014Presenter

Michael J. Cohen, Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center

Family Advocacy Team Project

IPS Learning Collaborative: Resources from J& J Corporate Contributions supports Dartmouth (PRC) bringing together key stakeholders: DMH, VR, NAMI Affiliates and Consumer Organizations

Each Family Team works within the NAMI Affiliate and with DMH and VR to: expand and improve family understanding of IPS; promote collaboration with local CMHCs and educate communities

Family Teams advocate for policies and financing which improve access to and implementation of high quality IPS throughout the State Mental Health and VR Service Systems.

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Participating NAMI Affiliates

» Colorado Connecticut» Washington DC Alameda County

» Oregon Missouri» Maryland North Carolina» Kansas South Carolina

» Minnesota Illinois» Vermont Wisconsin

» Kentucky Ohio

What Families Say…..

• “I feel that employment is critical to help my son cope better in society. Next to a cure for his illness, work has as much impact as anything.”

• “My son has been working for about four years. I see improvement in mixing with people and I see some independence. Best of all, he is earning money to spend as he pleases”

Dartmouth PRC 25

Recovery & IPS-

Supported Employmen

t

Holistic

Peer Support Non-

Linear

Strength-Based

Responsibility

Empowerment

Person Centered

Self-Direction

Hope

Respect

Work fulfills a human need along with health, relationships, housing and spirituality

Work fosters hope and motivation for a better future

People actively participate in goal setting, job finding and maintaining work

Treatment and services are based on each individual’s goals

People make decisions about job type and setting

People have the right to choose their supports and participate in work decisions

Job and school transitions are supported as part of career development

Services align with strengths, talents, skills and preferences

Peers share personal stories about work, school and recovery to benefit others

Competitive employment builds confidence and self-respect

Is Work Too Stressful?

As compared to what?

“If you think work is stressful, try

unemployment”*

*Marone & Golowka, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 1999

Highlights of IPS Advocacy Team Progress

• Since 2008 16 family teams coordinated by NAMI affiliates work with state MH/VR teams as part of the J&J Learning Collaborative; Level of current activity is variable

• Since 2008- 6000+ people have participated in an educational program or heard a family testimonial on the goals and benefits of IPS.

• Advocacy by teams in IL, OR, MN, WI, KY, Alameda County have had success expanding funding for and the number of IPS programs

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Progress at NAMI National

• NAMI National promotes need for employment resources for active military and veterans and a stronger VA-NAMI partnership

• With help and encouragement from families in the collaborative, NAMI National Policy Team issues report: Road to Recovery: Employment and Mental Illness, 2014

WI State Team-Presenting to Legislature

Family Employment Team ActivitiesPresentations at local mental health

agencies to break down communication barriers and improve trust; serve on IPS Steering Committees

Collaborate with DMH/VR staff to improve quality of IPS Supported Employment; Fidelity Reviewers

Educate families to increase involvement in employment activities to improve care coordination and help loved ones attain employment goals

Educate community about the family interest in work and its benefits to recovery (confront stigma)

Advocate policy makers to improve access to high fidelity IPS

IL Develops Site Map for IPS

BENEFITS TO NAMI AFFILIATES• Part of a National Learning Community

facilitated by Dartmouth PRC has given an “ascribed status” to the organizations

• New, knowledgeable NAMI members joined affiliates based on a common advocacy issue

• Potential new leadership pool is created• New roles for family members in the CMHC

and VR systems• Another opportunity for the family voice in

your community • New friends in the legislature working on

common interests and agenda

Checklist for Getting Started

• Leadership-champion within NAMI Affiliate

• Programmatic capacity of the NAMI organization to take on the project

• Clear and understandable action plan • Team membership, roles and functioning • Working relationship between the with

NAMI state affiliate (family team), state mental health authority and VR leadership

• Collaborative relationship with IPS State Team and Dartmouth PRC; materials and consultation

Summary• Employment is a vehicle for recovery.• Families have a role helping to promote

recovery by advocating for access to high fidelity IPS supported employment.

• Family Advocacy Teams are equal partners in the Dartmouth-J&J Collaborative to educate and advocate for IPS

• A focus on a specific advocacy issue-IPS-has increased the number of volunteers into the NAMI family and grown the advocacy capacity of the NAMI Affiliates

• Affiliates are strengthen by their connection with the Dartmouth-J&J Project Collaborative

Contact Information

Michael J. Cohen, MA,CAGS (603) 496-1657

mjchealthsolutions@comcast.net

http://www.dartmouthips.org