IPS Fidelity Newsletter Vol. 14

As we close out 2025, I want to express our gratitude for your continued collaboration and efforts in supporting employment as an important part of behavioral health care at your agency.

Since the inception of our current grant in 2022, your partnerships have been instrumental to the implementation of the IPS model, creating meaningful impact through evidence-based practice. Together, we’ve achieved milestones that reflect not only hard work but also a shared commitment to excellence.

This year has been filled with progress, innovation, and growth—and none of it would have been possible without your partnership. Your trust and engagement inspire us to aim higher and deliver even greater value.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the DHHS Office of Behavioral Health, and DOL Bureau of Rehabilitation Services that together fund this work, supporting employment for people with serious mental illness to achieve, sustain, and advance in competitive employment throughout the great state of Maine.

From all of us at MaineHealth Vocational Services,

thank you for an incredible year.

We are looking forward to 2026!

-Jenn Kimble, Director

The CES Project routinely surveys project participants for input on the value of employment. Here are some consumer responses from the 2024 survey.

"Work gives you a regular schedule and something to look forward to and helps maintain your mental health."
"Works gets me out of the house and interacting with people. Lifts my depression."
"It helps to have something to distract you from mental health issues and makes you more independent."
"It builds self-esteem. It also provides purpose which is good all around."
"Work is a positive thing, even if it's part-time. I would feel better if I can contribute to society in some way."

Click the buttons below for extensive content

CES Webpage

Eight Core Principles

IPS Employment Center

Fidelity Scale

Fidelity Review Manual

Job Accommodation Network (JANN)

CES/IPS Trainer vs CES/IPS Supervisor:

Who does what?

Through our implementation of IPS over the past three years, this project known as "Behavioral Health Community Employment Services" or "CES", has been working to align to full fidelity of the IPS model. The IPS Trainer/Liaison role was introduced, designed to advance knowledge of and progress toward full IPS implementation across the program including organizational support to Host Agencies.

These roles complement each other; their roles and focus are described below:

The CES/IPS Supervisor ensures ongoing oversight of IPS operations within their host agency locations. They focus on vocational team performance and client outcomes. They do this through employment staff supervision, caseload management, quality monitoring, problem-solving employment-related issues at the host agency level and reviewing data to improve outcomes. They work closely with host agency team leaders to improve outcomes and to champion the value of employment for the treatment team(s) and vocational units. The Supervisors manages preparation for the State of Maine IPS Fidelity Reviews as well.

The IPS Trainer provides system-level understanding of barriers and opportunities for implementing IPS through a phase out consulting model available at all host agencies. The role provides technical support for the CES/IPS leaders team and the host agency executives to foster state-wide program alignment with IPS fidelity. The Trainer delivers employment-related trainings and provides resources to host agencies and the CES Project staff. The goal is to support the consistent implementation of IPS across all CES locations. The Trainer does not supervise staff, nor does the Trainer participate in State of Maine IPS Fidelity Reviews for the CES Project.

How can case management staff support those who express interest in

the literary arts?

Remember that treatment teams can remove barriers and create curiosity about the world of work which is invaluable to people we serve. Often, these consumers benefit from exploration in their field of interest before they are prepared to become self-employed in their craft. Provide them with resources to develop their skill, hone their craft, review the works of others, and potentially find a like-minded community. Below are publications related to writers and artists in the disability community. Each site offers valuable resources whether or not they continue to take submissions:

Enduring Voices
Metamorphosis
FLARE Magazine
Life in Limbo
Okay Donkey Magazine
Breath and Shadow is the literary arm of Ability Maine.

There are other organizations across Maine that support all writers. Some may offer scholarships to attend workshops and events. Social digital platforms such as Meetup.com offer local opportunities for writers and artists to network and workshop their craft on a regular basis.

Welcome to the MaineHealth Vocational Services, Community Employment Services newsletter. This newsletter is distributed quarterly and will provide resources and information pertaining to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment for people living with psychiatric disability. The purpose is to educate stakeholders on how to adapt their agencies to reach and maintain high fidelity to the model. The secondary purpose of this newsletter is to inform stakeholders of valuable employment-related resources in order to enculturate vocational conversations within mental health agencies and with the people served by those agencies.

Disability Employment has been a focus of MaineHealth's Vocational Services for over 40 years. We serve both job seekers and businesses, while also offering vocational rehabilitation services through ACT teams and mental health agencies. The DVS mission is to bridge the gap between employment and people with disabilities.

The most recent iteration of the CES grant (2022) introduces the IPS Fidelity Scale, the role of IPS Trainer and Liaison, and technical assistance and training to agencies as they learn to implement the principles and evidence-based practices of IPS. DVS would like to recognize our partnership with DHHS Employment and Workforce Development, and DOL Vocational Rehabilitation for their work in making this grant possible.

To reach Nancy Litrocapes, IPS Trainer and Liaison, please email: nancy.litrocapes@mainehealth.org.