Transformation

Employment of persons with mental illness is focus of project

Recognizing that employment is a key element in recovery from mental illness, Missouri’s Transformation Initiative is supporting a program that combats the myth that people with mental illnesses cannot succeed in meaningful work.

As one of 12 states participating in the Johnson & Johnson – Dartmouth Community Mental Health Program, Missouri is helping to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing evidence-based supported employment for people with severe mental illnesses. “While working is not the only role for adults in our society, it is clearly very important,” says Tish Thomas, state supported-employment trainer. “It is each person’s choice whether or not he or she would like to pursue work, but mental health centers should make it possible for the people they serve to have a job if it is their choice.”

Tri-County shows leadership in Mental Health Transformation

Tri-County Mental Health Services, a treatment center serving the Kansas City Northland community, has taken hold of Transformative initiatives for the betterment of the people they serve. In February, the agency was one of eight selected as a Community of Hope contractor to develop mental health and wellness plans based on local needs. Two years ago, in response to a report that persons with mental illnesses die 25 years earlier than the general population, Tri-County added a nurse to its clinical staff to provide proactive health care.

Now the agency has added an employment component to its list of services. Tri-County has adopted an employment strategy developed by a partnership between the Johnson & Johnson Corporation and Dartmouth College. The mission of the Johnson & Johnson - Dartmouth Community Mental Health Program is to increase access to evidence-based supported employment for adults with serious mental illnesses who are interested in improving their work lives. This national program systematically works with states to implement supported employment following this evidence-based guidelines, initially in a small number of sites (typically 3-4 community mental health centers) and expanding statewide over time. As of March of this year, 12 states and the District of Columbia are participants. To read more about Tri-County and the employment project, click here.

28 consumers complete Kansas City Peer Specialist training

The third Missouri Peer Specialist Basic Training, conducted the week of July 20-24, 2009, in Kansas City, graduated 28 participants.

Certified Peer Specialists use the power of peers to support, encourage, and model recovery from mental illness in ways that are specific to the needs of each individual.  Peer Support services are face-to-face services or group services with a rehabilitation and recovery focus.  Peer Services promote skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms while encouraging the use of natural resources and enhancing community living.

The activities of peer specialists assist their clients in achieving goals and objectives set forth by the consumer in their individualized treatment plans, while emphasizing the opportunity for consumers to support each other as they move forward in their recovery.

Employment Workgroup presents Recommendations to TWG

Employment workgroup co-chairs John Harper, DESE, and Virginia Selleck, DMH, presented   recommendations to the Transformation Working Group (TWG) at the TWG’s July 22 meeting in Jefferson City. The Employment Workgroup, formed in the fall of 2008, was chartered to study issues and barriers related to employment of persons with mental disabilities and to find ways to address the issues and break down the barriers.

Missouri holds second training of Peer Specialists

Thirty consumers of psychiatric services in Missouri recently completed five days of training in a process that will enable them to provide support to their fellow consumers. March 16-20 in St. Louis the trainees finished the third of four steps to become certified peer specialists.

The Missouri Peer Specialist Certification (MPSC) initiative, a significant component of Missouri's mental health transformation efforts, prepares individuals to assist others with psychiatric disabilities in reaching their treatment goals.

Candidates for peer specialist certification must have secured employment from a service provider, must complete a five-day basic training program, and must pass a certification examination to complete the process.

The Department of Mental Health and MoHealthNet  established  peer support  as a  covered service under Missouri’s Medicaid Rehabilitation option. A web site, www.peerspecialist.org, is “home” to registration for training events, information on training content, the online exam, support and networking,  and other information regarding Peer Specialists in Missouri.

The first session for training primary consumers to provide direct services was held at the end of September 2008. Thirty-six consumers completed the five-day course. Supervisors of the peer specialists also receive training to assist them in effectively working with the specialists.