Care Plus NJ Transforming Lives - Care Plus NJ's Transforming Lives program will provide integrated, evidence-based Supported Employment Program (SEP, often referred to interchangeably as Individual Placement and Support) services, psychiatric care, and complimentary activities (i.e. Supported Education) to improve competitive employment and recovery outcomes for adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) in Bergen and Passaic counties in New Jersey, with a particular focus on young adults ages 18-25. It is estimated that approximately 80% of individuals with SMI are unemployed, compared with the 3.8% national average for the general population (NAMI, 2014; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). New Jersey's unemployment rate is above the national average, and Passaic County's unemployment rate in particular is more than 60% higher (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). This is compounded for young adults who have nearly twice the rate of SMI than other age groups, with the fastest growing rates of SMI, major depression, and suicidality (SAMHSA, 2018). It is found that employment can significantly benefit individual's recovery, including improvement in symptoms, increased self-esteem, and satisfaction with finances. It is found that 60% of individuals with SMI can gain successful employment with the support of evidence-based SEP services (SAMHSA, 2009). The Transforming Lives program will increase the community's capacity to implement and sustain SEP models and integrated supports to improve competitive employment outcomes for individuals with SMI. Provider training, community outreach, and employer collaboration would provide the infrastructure to foster individual success and the sustainability of the SEP model. CPNJ will serve 450 unduplicated individuals in the population of focus over the 5 year grant period. Goal 1: Empower individuals in the population of focus to obtain and maintain competitive employment to improve recovery outcomes. Objective 1.1: 60% of enrolled individuals will gain competitive employment each year. Objective 1.2: 80% of enrolled individuals will have first contact with an employer within 30 days of enrollment. Objective 1.3: 75% of enrolled individuals will have retained employment at 3-month follow up. Goal 2: Provide outreach, training, and community education to improve individual's employment outcomes and support the sustainability of the Transforming lives program. Objective 2.1: Over the 5 year grant period, 500 people in the mental health and related workforce will be trained in SEP. Objective 2.2: Over the five year grant period, 50 organizations will collaborate, coordinate, and share resources as a result of this grant. Objective 2.3: Over the five year grant period, 100 employers will be outreached to receive education regarding the SEP model and ways to support individuals with SMI. CPNJ's 40 years of experience serving the population of focus and over 25 years of providing supported employment services will assist individuals reach and exceed their employment goals. The Transforming Lives program will offer the opportunity for individuals to find hope for personally meaningful recovery.
