Serving Individuals with
Most Significant Disabilities
Technical Assistance &
Continuing Education Center

Webinar Series

Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities – A Seven Part Webinar Series

Sponsors: Southeast TACE Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Description

The Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities will provide vocational rehabilitation counselors and area directors with information, tools, and tips to communicate, interact, and support individuals with mental health disabilities to reach integrated, competitive employment goals. It will be a forum for collaborative inquiry and learning related to enhancing participant’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of jobseekers with mental health disabilities. Through all activities, participants will be supported while they learn to apply new ideas and information that will expand their capacity to create new conditions that will result in positive outcomes for individuals with mental health disabilities.

Webinars: October 2011 – April 2012

October 6, 2011 – Adults w/ Severe Mental Illness (SMI)

December 1, 2011 – Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections - Part 1

January 12, 2012 – Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections - Part 2

February 2, 2012 – Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 1

March 9, 2012 – Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 2

March 30, 2012 – Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 1

April 17, 2012 – Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 2

Presenters:

• Charlie Bernacchio
  Assistant Professor, Coordinator Rehabilitation Counseling - University of Southern Maine
• Eileen Burker
  Associate Professor/Director, Rehabilitation Counseling & Psychology- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Moderator

• Jill Houghton
  TACE Southeast, Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University
  
  

Webinar Specifics

Webinar One: Adults w/ Severe Mental Illness (SMI)

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2011 
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Adults w/ Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Webinar

**This is the first webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain a basic understanding of Severe Mental Illness (SMI) and become conversant with limitations/barriers due to psychiatric conditions, evidence-based practices and strategies for managing these mental illnesses.

Topics include:

• DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic criteria for 3 types of SMI:
• Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Major Depressive Disorder
• Impact of each of the 3 disorders on family, social, & vocational functioning 
• Best evidence-based practice (EBP) for the 3 disorders and links to additional resources
• 5 models that focus on adults with SMI
• Illness management recovery
• ACT
• Family psychoeducation
• Integrated dual diagnosis
• Supported Employment
• Psychiatric symptom management strategies for recovery and independent living
• Med adherence
• Recovery-oriented approaches
• Stigma due to public and self-perception
• Suggestions/recommendations for rehabilitation counselors
• Examples of peer support in other states
• Recovery movement
• Peer support services
• Wrap plan
• Natural supports

Webinar Two: Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011 
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections Webinar

**This is the second webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of co-occurring disorders and become conversant with consequences of criminal background with this population, proven practices and strategies for re–entry including work and vocational preparation.

Topics include:

• SMI and co-morbid substance use/abuse
• Severity of criminal offense(s)
• Challenges with co-occurring substance abuse
• Best Evudence Based Practices for co-occurring disorders
• SMI and a corrections history
• Jail diversion, community court and mandated treatment
• In-prison VR programs including: Work release and re–entry
• Institutional trauma from corrections experience
• Barriers to re–entry and inclusion
• Pre-employment preparation– GED, drivers license, vocational
• Suggestions/ recommendations for rehabilitation counselors
• Case studies, boundaries– rehabilitation counselors can’t do everything

Webinar Three: Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections - Part 2

Date: Thursday, January 12, 2012 
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections Webinar - Part 2

**This is the third webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

This is the Second part of the Adults with SMI, Substance Use/Abuse and Corrections

During this webinar, participants will continue to gain knowledge of co-occurring disorders and become conversant with consequences of criminal background with this population, proven practices and strategies for reentry including work and vocational preparation.

Topics include:

• Institutional trauma from corrections experience
• Barriers to re–entry and inclusion
• Pre-employment preparation– GED, drivers license, vocational
• Suggestions/ recommendations for rehabilitation counselors
• Case studies, boundaries– rehabilitation counselors can’t do everything

Webinar Four: Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI

**This is the fourth webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of career planning and employment training, as well as learn about benefits retention, disclosure and in vivo assessment.

Topics include:

• Screening and assessing for work- situational assessment
• Exploring work/career interests (benefit of temporary and part time work experience)
• Career development, developing connections and identifying job opportunities
• Plan for benefit retention (Employment Related Work Expense (ERWE), Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS), & Medicaid)
• Q&A- participant discussion

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome for this event is gaining knowledge of exploring work options, career planning, and employment training, as well as learning about benefits retention, disclosure and ongoing assessment/support.

Webinar Five: Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 2

Date: Friday, March 9, 2012
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Career Exploration, Development and Planning for Consumers w/ SMI

**This is the fifth webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of career planning and employment training, as well as learn about benefits retention, disclosure and in vivo assessment.

Topics include:

• Skill training and development (job seeking and support)
• Preparing for interviews
• Job clubs
• Clubhouse model
• Drop-in centers
• Peer support
• Individual Placement Service- Dartmouth model
• Disclosure and confidentiality
• Issues: Are clients prepared to deal with these questions?
• Suggestions/recommendations for rehabilitation counselors

Informal roundtable and guest perspectives are shared (consumer consultants). Updates on group project efforts and response to any need for assistance.

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome for this event is gaining knowledge of exploring work options, career planning, and employment training, as well as learning about benefits retention, disclosure and ongoing assessment/support.

Webinar Six: Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI

Date: Friday, March 30, 2012 
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI Webinar

**This is the sixth webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of job development, disclosure, reasonable accommodations, supports and the individual placement services model.

Topics include:

• Effective approaches to use with employers (including Job development techniques and handling disclosure)
• Individual Placement Service (IPS) Model- Evidence Based Practices (EBP) for Severe Mental Illness (SMI)
• Analyzing jobs for matching and modifications
• Need for individual supports?
• Identifying employment opportunities, job creation and modifications

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome for this event is gaining knowledge of working with employers, job development, disclosure, reasonable accommodations, supports and the individual placement services model.

Webinar Seven: Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI - Part 2

Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET
Register for Job Development, Placement & Support Strategies for Consumers w/ SMI Webinar

**This is the seventh webinar in the TACE Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities Learning Community Series

During this webinar, participants will gain knowledge of job development, disclosure, reasonable accommodations, supports and the individual placement services model.

Topics include:

• Customer service, ongoing relationships, job leads and job supports (including job coaching and long-term supports- important issue)
• Natural supports (e.g., co-worker)
• Peer specialists
• Peer support
• Employment rights under ADA
• Suggestions/recommendations for rehabilitation counselors
• Practical approaches for rehabilitation counselors

Objectives & Outcomes

The expected outcome for this event is gaining knowledge of working with employers, job development, disclosure, reasonable accommodations, supports and the individual placement services model.