Tuesday, September 27, 2022
9/27/2022
This KCMHSAS Supported Employment project transforms and elevates the system implementation of evidence-based supported employment. The population of focus is individuals age 16 and older with Serious Emotional Disturbance SED), Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and/or co-occurring substance use disorder (COD) in Kalamazoo County. A subpopulation of focus is Youth/Young Adults (YYA) aged 16-25 years old with SMI, SED, or COD. Population of Focus: This population has low employment rates (14%), is racially diverse (28% Black vs 11.6% for general population) and experiences housing difficulty (17% are homeless), and COD (30%). Population of focus demographics include: a) Gender: 49.5% female, 50.4% male, 0.73% transgender/other; b) Race: 62.28% White/Caucasian, 28.14% Black/African American, 9.58% Other; c) Ethnicity: 4.36% Hispanic/Latinx; d) Age: 20.32% 16-25; 12.34% 26-30; 42.47% 31-50; 24.87% 51+; e) Language: 1.5% other than English at home; f) sexual orientation: 3.76% LGBQ. Veterans make up 1.47% of the population and 78.62% are not employed or in school. YYA subpopulation (20% of the population) differs slightly from the broad population of focus with more females (52.33%), transgender (1.58%), LGBQ (5.68% ages 16-25 and 7.32% ages 18-25) and racial and cultural diversity (53.31% white/Caucasian and 5.99% Hispanic/Latinx). 27% of the sub-population is ages 16-17. Homeless rates for the subpopulation are 9.5% (12.07% of ages 18-20). Strategies and intervention: This project implements supported employment services through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model enhanced by Motivational Interviewing (MI) evidence-based strategies. The project will increase Employment Specialist staff capacity and foster closer integration with mental health treatment teams. Goal 1: Increase access to evidence based supported employment. Objective 1: The number of adults (26+) with SMI who received SE will increase to 1200 by the end of year 5. Objective 2: The number of YYA (16-25) with SED/SMI who received SE will increase to 200 by the end of year 5. Objective 3: The average amount of services individuals receive while participating in SE will increase by 100% to 12 hours per episode of care by the end of year 5. Goal 2: Integrate supported employment with comprehensive mental health services. Objective 1: Executive leadership in KCMHSAS and partner organizations will promote supported employment as outlined in Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). Objective 2: 100% of mental health workforce serving target population will receive training to increase knowledge and support of competitive employment. Objective 3: Employment Specialists will be active members of clinical teams consistent with IPS standards, based on independent fidelity reviews. Goal 3: Improve competitive employment outcomes for people enrolled in the project. Objective 1: 50% of SE participants (Adults 26+ with SMI) will obtain and remain in competitive employment for 90 days. Objective 2: 30% of SE participants (YYA 16-25) will obtain and remain in competitive employment for 90 days. Objective 3: 350 individuals will receive benefit specialist services by end of Year 5. A total unduplicated count of 1400 individuals will be enrolled in the project over 5 years; Year 1 = 200, Year 2 = 300, Year 3 = 350, Year 4 = 350, and Year 5 = 200.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
