Click the button for a series of FREE trainings offered by the IPS Employment Center on how the Eight Core Principles of IPS occur in daily practice.

Reminder to host agencies to send at least one manager or executive to the course below by the end of 2024. The intention is for host agency management to be able to speak comfortably about the IPS model and carry forth the message to all staff.

Erick's story

Here is the final paragraph of a longer text of an employment success story. That text references the work of the case manager, VR Counselor, and a family member as key players in the outcome below.

"Since Erick started at the small, family-owned business, he has flourished! He jokes around with the owners’ daughter like they are siblings, the family brought Erick a gift for his birthday, and they have been happy to work with Erick on any accommodation he needs. Erick’s mother and sisters have noted how happy Erick is after he works. He is excited and proud to be earning money and was even able to buy his family presents with the money he made at work. The best part, as Erick was excited to tell his employment specialist, is that his favorite task is the one he feared the most, working the cash register!"

--Employment Specialist, CES Project, Maine 



Welcome to Maine Medical Center’s (MMC) Department of Vocational Services (DVS), Community Employment Services newsletter. This newsletter will be distributed monthly 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 Maine Medical Center’s Department of Vocational Services (DVS) for over 40 years. DVS serves 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.

This manual is available through IPSworks.org

under the tab, Shop.

It guides all stakeholders in understanding the Fidelity Review process and offers sample questions, rationale and relevance for each of the 25-anchors in the Fidelity Scale.

I encourage all agencies to access a copy, especially those agencies in the CCBHCs.

Click the buttons below to access extensive research and resources on Individualized Placement and Support

What is an IPS Steering Committee?

Steering committees, also referred to as stakeholder or leaderships groups, help plan and monitor IPS supported employment implementation and sustainment.  

What does the steering committee do?

They learn about IPS supported employment, examine the agency and system of care for policies or practices that conflict with IPS, review current employment outcomes, if available, and build consensus for IPS by asking working people to share their stories and talk about the relationship between work and recovery.

They also discuss plans for IPS implementation, for example, and the IPS supported employment fidelity scale to determine areas where change is needed. Once agency fidelity is reviewed, they meet to create action plans to improve best practices.

How often does a steering committee meet?

Initially, quarterly, then bi-annually as the mental health agency develops high-scoring behaviors, practices and policies.

Who sits on an IPS Steering Committee?

Steering committees strive to include a diverse range of stakeholders that may change over time depending upon the needs of the program.  Most often, they include agency administrators, people served and family members, IPS Supervisor(s), VR Counselors, the agency's Clinical Director, and economic development stakeholders in the community.

Here is a wellness activity booklet for case managers or other staff to guide people toward healthy habits. Click here for access.