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Practice Tips for Mental Health Practitioners:

Zero Exclusion is a practice principle in IPS supported employment. The CES Project uses the Need for Change Self-Rating Scale for people served to decide for themselves when they are ready to become employed or attend higher schooling.

Zero Exclusion means that people are not excluded on the basis of readiness, diagnoses, symptoms, substance use history, psychiatric hospitalizations, homelessness, level of disability, or legal system involvement.

IPS programs do not try to change people before helping them with employment.

Strategies to support mental health practitioners in assisting people to meet the demands of the worker role

Can the people you serve "chit chat" about topics that would help them build connections if they were to become employed? Or begin attending school?

Sometimes the most stressful experience of working can be break or lunch time because work may feel like a cultural unknown. The ever used, "How was your weekend?" question can feel paralyzing for some. Can you preemptively support people in having ready-made responses to stressful questions that will likely come up in new social settings? This may make them more willing to consider becoming employed. Ask yourself:

• What topics do you chit chat about with your coworkers?
• Can you come up with five topics that break the ice with someone you don't know?
• Do you know 2-3 appropriate jokes?

Do a Google search related to conversation starters and conversation responses. How might you build this into your work with clients? Which topics would they choose from a menu of choices?

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

JAN helps employers recognize the valuable contributions that qualified workers with disabilities add to the workforce by providing job accommodation solutions, trusted interactive process strategies, and practical guidance on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Job accommodations play a vital role in increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

JAN can be a support to MED PROVIDERS who are often asked to certify disability and accommodation requests and may not know where to go for support in doing so.

FMI click the link below or call JAN at 800-526-7234

MHRT-C Domain 8 Training

5-part course beginning in May 2025

Benefits Navigator Training

June 3, 2025

IPS 101: Practice Principles

Free, 90 minute virtual webinars

Updated for 2025!

IPS Non-Practitioners Course

$20/pp, 2-hour virtual course

My Living and Working with SMI...

Free, 1 hour virtual course

Five Stages in Recovery...

Free, 1 hour virtual course

"Work is an Outcome

of Care"

Let's look at recent testimonials about CES ESs and how they've made a difference for people served in host agencies:

"(My ES) is an amazing person to work with. She helps me identify struggles I have about work. She keeps me accountable. She is very kind, doesn't judge me. She talks about work skills to build on.

I also love that she answers me or calls me back."

"I am so happy to be working with (my ES). She makes me feel so wonderful and I feel so seen, not only as someone who is trying to get back out there but as someone who is fighting for my dignity. She is one of the most down-to-earth and bright people I have ever worked with, and I hope she continues this career path in blessing everyone she works with. You can really tell she loves what she does and that she is such an amazing part of this community.

I feel so happy when she sits with me".

I feel like I've found my voice with my ES. She listens to my needs and concerns and offers good advice/solutions to make work situations better. She's been a positive influence which helps with self-esteem and helps me to be a positive employee. You should hire more people like her. She is amazing and I feel like I can bring anything to her and not be judged. She has an amazing attitude which helps. I've enjoyed working with her. I continue to look forward to working with her to maintain job performance and to keep moving forward. Keep up the great work. I enjoy working with (my ES). "

The graph below shows the outcomes of trials evaluating IPS versus other standard employment practices in vocational rehabilitation. The outcomes were that 55% of people in IPS programs acquired a job as compared to only 25% of those in the control groups.

Research has shown that people supported through IPS are more likely to become steady workers over time.

For a deep dive into the IPS review process,

 click the button below.

NEW MaineHealth Pre-Apprenticeship Program!

Click HERE for this program which is designed for people curious about healthcare careers

Welcome to the MaineHealth Vocational Services, Community Employment Services newsletter. This newsletter will be 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.