IPS Fidelity Newsletter Vol. 2

Welcome to Maine Medical Center’s (MMC) Department of Vocational Services (DVS), Community Employment Services newsletter. This monthly newsletter is designed to facilitate awareness and understanding of the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment services, to reinforce the importance of employment to mental health recovery, and to share resources for providers in behavioral health agencies to support vocational conversations with individuals served.

Why focus on employment?

• Viewed by many as an essential part of recovery
• Most consumers want to work
• A typical role for adults in our society

Effects of Unemployment

• Increased substance abuse
• Increased psychiatric disorders
• Reduced self-esteem
• Alienation

Benefits of Employment

• Increased income
• Increased medication compliance
• Decreased dependence on others
• Improved self-esteem
• Increased social and quality of life
• Better control of symptoms
• Reduced substance use
• Reduced hospitalization
• Reduced criminal justice involvement

Work = Hope

What is Individualized Placement and Support (IPS)?

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, depression). IPS supported employment helps people living with behavioral health conditions work at regular jobs of their choosing. Although variations of supported employment exist, IPS refers to the evidence-based practice of supported employment. Mainstream education and technical training are included as ways to advance career paths. 

IPS is the most researched model of supported employment and has been implemented in 26 states and seven countries.

Integration of mental health treatment and employment services is core to IPS. Integrated services are more effective than separate services because teams create better solutions than individuals. The person served does not have to attend different clinics, receives consistent messages from the team, and receives a higher level of care as the team members learn from each other.

-IPS Supported Employment Manual, 2022, summarized by N. Litrocapes

The Role of Mental Health Practitioners in IPS

Direct Service Strategies:

• Identify an employment goal on each consumer's treatment plan
• Help consumers identify their marketable qualities and experiences that could make them appealing to employers
• Encourage consumers to conceptualize what a "recovered" life could look like
• Talk about your own past job experiences--especially early jobs-- that were challenging and a little scary

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 to advance employment for individuals with disabilities; this includes providing Community Employment Services (CES) as part of treatment teams in behavioral health agencies across the state. This newsletter, made possible through a partnership with Maine DHHS Office of Behavioral Health and Maine DOL Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, is developed by the CES team’s IPS Trainer and Liaison. This role provides technical assistance and training to stakeholder agencies as they learn more about the principles and evidence-based practices of IPS. To reach Nancy Litrocapes, IPS Trainer and Liaison, please email: nancy.litrocapes@mainehealth.org. 

Recommended Learnings:

IPS for Non-Employment Practitioners

ADA: Executive Functioning Deficits

Benefits Navigation Trainings