Presented by Tina Wooton CA Department of Mental Health Mental Health Services Act Team

1. Presented by Tina Wooton CA Department of Mental Health Mental Health Services Act Team July 26, 2005

2. “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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. “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 separate consumer or family member staff, but as our peers and teammates.” Proposition 63 Begins, Mark Ragins, M.D.

6. John Black, Stanislaus County • My journey of Recovery and my employment success - Telecare Corporation

7. The California Coalition of Consumer Providers in Mental Health Management Odette Chenoweth Donna Nunes Sharon Kuehn Jay Mahler Tina Wooton

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Successfully Hiring Consumers/ Family Members & Parent Partners

13. 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

14. 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

15. Preparing the MH Community * Benefits Counseling / Advocacy * Employee Assistance Program Availability * Review regional resources, e.g. independent living resources, one stops, etc.

16. 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

17. Core Components of aConsumer-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

18. More on Core Components… Site and transportation issues Recruitment/selection of participants • Applications • Panel interviews • Curriculum/guest speakers (see knowledge, skills, behaviors) • Budget • Work-study or internships supervision

19. Consumer-Provider Training Desired Outcomes Knowledge Skills Behaviors Treatment Models Active listening Regular attendance Boundaries Peer Counseling Able to focus Ethics/Confidentiality Group Facilitation Supports peers C/S/X Movement Charting/Notes Self-Care Self-Help Computer use Caring toward Recovery Vision Resume/Interview skills others Medical Model basics: Observation Medication types Communication Diagnoses Conflict Resolution Public MH System MH Resources (local, state)

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Different Models to Integrate Consumers into Positions • Strategies • By-Laws • RFP • Human Resources • Integrated Teams • Peer-Run Programs

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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)

30. Support Systems for the Consumer Workers once Employed • Reasonable Accommodations • 1. Flexible schedules • 2. Limited duties • 3. Time for consumer activities • 4. Doctors appointments

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. Questions and Discussion