MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS: Working for
Recovery
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Facts
• 60 – 70% of people with a mental illness
want to work
• Less than 15% are employed
• Unemployment rate is 3 to 5 times higher
than those without a mental illness
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Irony of it All
Employment is
an evidence-based practice
in treating mental illnesses and
helping people in their recovery
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Employment
• Provides daily structure, routine, goals
• Improves self-esteem and self-image
• Increases income
• Provides opportunities for friendships,
social support
• Reduces symptoms
• Improves quality of life
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Barriers
• Stigma
• Difficulty disclosing to employers
• Not asking for accommodations
• Many employment programs geared
towards other disabilities
• Programs are “place” and drop
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Employment
• Covered under Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Under the ADA, you have a disability if you
have a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits a major life
activity
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MN Employment Programs
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Extended Employment (EE)
• EE-SMI (for people with serious mental
illness)
• Supported Employment
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Individual Placement and Support
IPS
• Evidence-based practice
• Competitive employment rate is 65%
compared to 25% for other models
• Took 10 weeks less to get a job
• Two thirds worked 20+ hours a week
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Principles of IPS
1. Focus on competitive employment
2. Eligibility based on client choice
3. Integration of rehabilitation and mental
health services
4. Attention to client preferences
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Principles of IPS
5.
6.
7.
8.
Personalized benefits counseling
Rapid job search
Systematic job development
Time unlimited and individualized
support
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS
• Team Approach/Multidisciplinary
– Case manager or counselor
– Voc rehab counselor
– Client
– Employment specialist
– Psychiatrist or nurse practitioner
– Family member
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Career Profile
•Client completes with employment
specialist in first few weeks
•Updated with each new job
experience
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Career Profile
• What is your dream job?
• What do you like and not like?
• What symptoms impact you?
• Are there physical health issues that get
in the way?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Career Profile
Considerations…
• Work goal
• Education and experience
• Mental and physical health
• Cognitive problems/abilities
• Getting ready for a job
• Interpersonal skills
• Work skills
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Career Profile
More than just a job….
• Benefits
• Disclosure
• Substance use
• Justice system record
• Daily activity
• Networking contacts
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Competitive employment
• Real jobs
• Part- or full-time
• At least minimum wage
• Has the same pay and benefits as
everyone else
• Not a segregated environment or
workgroup
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Zero Exclusion
• Anyone who wants to participate is
eligible
• Motivation is an indicator of success
• Doesn’t matter re: work history,
diagnosis, criminal record, substance use,
missed appointments, cognitive
problems, grooming
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Integrating employment and
mental health
• Work as a team
• Collaborate, service coordination
• Treatment changes to accommodate
work. Ex: modifying medication schedule
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Client preferences are honored
• What kind of job is sought
• Whether to disclose or not
• What type of support is desired – role
playing, job coaching, talking to employer
• People stay at jobs longer when they like
them
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Benefits planning
• Know how it impacts MA and/or Medicare
• Know how it impacts Social Security,
General Assistance or Veteran’s benefits
• Ongoing service, not one-time
• Work Incentives Connection –
(651) 632-5113
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Rapid job search
• Explore within one month
• No hoops to go through first
• No work readiness, work adjustment,
work trials
• Acting on motivation
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Systematic job development
• Develop relationships with employers
• Learn about work environment and
employers’ needs
• Out in the community - greater
opportunity to learn about jobs opening
up
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Components Follow – Along supports
• Individualized assistance
• As long as needed and desired
• Responsive to changing interests
• Can assist in going back to school
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Long-Term Benefits
• Cost effective
• May reduce hospitalizations and other
intensive services
• Savings in Social Security and other
federal benefits programs
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS in Minnesota
• Six projects funded
• Part of national learning collaborative
with Dartmouth and J&J
• Joint effort Dept of Employment &
Economic Development (DEED) & DHS
• Average cost per project $125,830
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
IPS Projects in Minnesota
• HDC in Duluth
• Guild in St Paul
• Functional Industries in Wright County
• Tran$em in Clay and Ottertail Counties
• Lifetrack Resources in Washington
County
• Rise, Inc in Anoka County
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI-MN Family Advocacy
Team
• Raise awareness of benefits of IPS
• Expand the number of IPS programs in
the state
• Encourage family members to become
involved in employment activities
• Advocate at community & state levels
• Become part of our team!
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Dartmouth IPS Supported
Employment Center
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ips/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Questions?
National Alliance on Mental Illness
MINNESOTA
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Minnesota
800 Transfer Road, Suite 31
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-645-2948
1-888-NAMI-HELPS
www.namihelps.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness