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California Institute For Mental HealthEmployment Overview Web-cast

Presented by Tina Wooton

CA Department of Mental Health

Mental Health Services Act TeamJuly 26, 2005

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California Institute For Mental HealthEmployment Overview Web-cast

“In this transformed system, stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses will not have an impact on securing healthcare, productive employment or safe housing. Our society will not tolerate employment discrimination against people with serious mental illnesses – in either the public or private sector.” - President’s New Freedom Commission

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This is the first in a series of Web-casts on employment of consumers

and family members in the community and in the mental health system.

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Web-cast Series

• Web-casts on Employment of Consumers and Family Members in the Mental Health System– Tina Wooton – Overview– TAY Education and Employment Supports– Training Peers to Work– Human Resources Perspective – Contra Costa /

Sacramento– Support for employment in the Community– Supportive Employment – Effective Models– Type of Employment Supports – Volunteering / OA /

Cultural Issues

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“Probably the most powerful in this regard is this Act (MHSA)’s mandate to include ‘promotion of the employment of mental health consumers and family members in the mental health system.’“No single experience is a stronger stigma reducer, ‘us versus them’ barrier breaker, or humanizer than working alongside consumers and family members. No single experience is more likely to change the entire mental health culture. To achieve this outcome, they need to be hired not in separate consumer-run programs, and not as separateconsumer or family member staff, but as our peers and teammates.”

Proposition 63 Begins, Mark Ragins, M.D.

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John Black, Stanislaus County

• My journey of Recovery and my employment success - Telecare Corporation

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The California Coalition of Consumer

Providers in Mental Health Management

Odette Chenoweth Donna NunesSharon Kuehn Jay Mahler

Tina Wooton

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Introduction

• Planning Council – statewide numbers– From a 36 county report– 86% employed at least one consumer / family member– 1471 consumers employed– 211 family members employed– Only 8 counties employed the majority of both consumers and family

members

• Sacramento County / Contra-Costa County• Employing Consumers/Family Members in Mental

Health– Benefits of hiring consumers and family members– History of Consumer/Family Member Employment– Resources

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Benefits of Hiring Consumers and Family Members

• Increased self-esteem

• Role modeling from currently employed consumers

• More active role for family members – learning systems and resources

• Stigma reducer – system-wide and society as a whole

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History of Consumer/Family Member Employment

• Self-help programs 1970s

• Denver CO, 1986 first case manager hired

• 1990 Sacramento Community Support Program Demonstration Grant– 300 consumers and family members

employed in Sacramento county

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Resources• DMH/DR Co-op• The Successful Employment of Consumers, a

Report from the California Institute for Mental Health by Laura L. Mancuso, M.S., June, 1997

• Family / Professional Partnerships – Making them Work, Implementation Guide for Family Partners for Agency Administrators, November, 2002

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Successfully Hiring Consumers/

Family Members &

Parent Partners

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Four Target Areas for Successful Employment• Preparation of the mental health community

for the employment of consumers/family members and parents of minors in the mental health field

• Training of consumers/family members for working in the mental health field

• Identifying and creating placement opportunities for consumer/family members

• Support systems for the consumer/family workers once they are employed

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Preparing the MH Community

• Benefits of Hiring Consumers/ Family Members – To consumers served – To consumers hired – To provider co-workers– To the agency or system– To society as a whole

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Preparing the MH Community

* Benefits Counseling / Advocacy

* Employee Assistance Program Availability

* Review regional resources, e.g. independent living resources, one stops, etc.

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Training of Consumers to Work in the Mental Health Field

Different approaches: Community College courses or Certificate

Programs CASRA curriculum

Consumer-Provider training programs Benefits of classroom training and work-study

or internship model run by experienced Consumer-Providers

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Core Components of a Consumer-Provider Training:Networking with Local Programs/Agencies:• Involve all stakeholders

– Advisory Committee – Support from DR/Vocational Services– Site visits, guest speakers– Work-Study Program (internships)

• Consumer Leadership/Role Models– Instruction team and Technical Assistance with process skills   

• Check-in: Peer Recovery experience• WRAP: Self-Care and Support• WRAP Groups weekly: group facilitation experience

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More on Core Components…

Site and transportation issuesRecruitment/selection of participants

– Applications– Panel interviews– Curriculum/guest speakers (see

knowledge, skills, behaviors)– Budget– Work-study or internships supervision

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Consumer-Provider Training Desired Outcomes

Knowledge Skills BehaviorsTreatment Models Active listening Regular attendanceBoundaries Peer Counseling Able to focusEthics/Confidentiality Group Facilitation Supports peers C/S/X Movement Charting/Notes Self-Care Self-Help Computer use Caring towardRecovery Vision Resume/Interview skills othersMedical Model basics: Observation Medication types Communication Diagnoses Conflict ResolutionPublic MH SystemMH Resources (local, state)

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Training of Consumers to Work in the Mental Health Field (cont.)

• Participants to work in small groups to identify first steps in resources to develop local training program– To include consumers / family

members/parents of minors– Administration– Contract providers, etc.

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Identifying and Creating Placement Opportunities for Consumer Workers

Key Topics:Working with provider organizations to identify:

•Jobs•Hiring plan for the agency•Job descriptions•Jobs throughout the system (county and contract, including administration, management, line staff and clerical)•Consumer/family operated programs

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Identifying and Creating Placement Opportunities for Consumer Workers

Key Topics (cont):Working with provider organizations to identify:

•Addressing county issues such as civil service classifications

•Develop internships or work-study as a step toward creating positions

•Creating a wide array of job options, such as PT/FT, volunteer, stipend, job-sharing, etc.

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Different Models to Integrate Consumers into Positions

• Strategies– By-Laws– RFP– Human Resources– Integrated Teams– Peer-Run Programs

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Different Models to Integrate Consumers into Positions

• Strategies (continued)Coming into an established agency and starting

or implementing equal positions or jobs would be the best case scenario.

There are people who don’t want to disclose.

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Different Models to Integrate Consumers Into Positions

• Example of client / family member positions– Personal Service Coordinator / Mental

Health Worker / Service Provider– Peer Counselors– Family Coordinator– Family Partners

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Different Models to Integrate Consumers Into Positions (cont.)

• Example of client / family member positions (continued)

Structure of Position* Volunteers* Full-Time* Part-Time* Stipend* Job Sharing* Different / Flexible Shifts

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Different Models to Integrate Consumers into Positions (cont.)

• Models Pros and Cons– Civil service position

• Cons – medical model / more education requirements• Pros – better benefits

– Contracted –• Pros – flexible schedules, life experience• Cons – no retirement, feeling of “not belonging”

– Personal service contracts– Private contract agency to hire consumer / family

members to work for the county

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Career Ladders

• People / consumers who are finishing college/ upper / lower division

• Goals to include becoming a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

• MHSA Ed/ Training component may be able to assist people with upper education opportunities

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Support Systems for the Consumer Workers once Employed• Supervision• Benefits Counseling / Advocacy• Reasonable Accommodations• On-going Support / WRAP Support Groups• Co-Worker Support Plans• Buddy System • Mentor Program• Support Group (Wellness Recovery Action

Plans Groups)

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Support Systems for the Consumer Workers once Employed

Reasonable Accommodations

1. Flexible schedules2. Limited duties3. Time for consumer activities4. Doctors appointments

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Support Systems for the Consumer Workers once Employed

Consumer/family Integration Coordinator Role• Consumer Affairs Liaison (consumer advocate/family

coordinator)• Serving on the administrative team in the county,

supervised by the Mental Health Director. However, could be provided by a program coordinator with significant sensitivity and empathy with consumers/family members.

• Requires a solid consumer movement and recovery philosophy knowledge base.

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Support Systems for the Consumer Workers once Employed

Consumer Employment Coordinator Role (cont.)

• Four target areas for successful employment

• Report to the Consumer/Family Integration Coordinator

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Contact Information

• Tina Wooton – (916) 653-5826, tina.wooton@dmh.ca.gov• Sharon Kuehn – (925) 957-5143

sharonkuehn@sbc.global.net• Odette Chenoweth – (707) 784-8335

ochenoweth@solanocounty.com• Donna Nunes – (559) 455-2125

dlnunes@co.fresno.ca.us• Jay Mahler – (925) 957-5174

jmahler@hsd.co.contracosta.ca.us

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Questions and Discussion