Employment Team
DMH Employment Team | Work Incentive Information
Employment Partners | DMH Employment Team Update
The Department of Mental Health serves many people who want to work and who are capable of working. The Department recognizes the important role that employment and supported employment plays in the lives of persons we support. Employment enhances self-esteem, builds confidence and assists people in becoming interdependent members of their community. Studies show that employment assists in recovery of persons with Alcohol and Drug Addictions and Mental Illness. Working individuals contribute to their local and state economies by paying taxes, increased spending power and reducing their reliance upon the service system. However, numerous barriers exists which contribute to the low employment rate of persons we serve. Some barriers include fear of losing benefits, under employment, systemic barriers, lack of transportation, housing concerns, attitudes about persons with disabilities etc.
In 1999, the Department of Mental Health established the Department of Mental Health Employment Team to address issues surrounding the employment of persons with disabilities. Its goal is to increase employment of persons with disability served by the department. The three Divisions have assigned staff to participate on the Team. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as a primary partner in providing employment services has also assigned a liaison to work with the team. It is the intent of the employment team to not only continue the working relationship with VR but to strengthen or form new partnerships with other consumer advocacy groups and state and local agencies that play a role in enhancing employment outcomes for DMH consumers. By working together, we can develop specific action steps that will help us remove barriers to employment.
The DMH employment team has revised the DMH Employment Plan which was approved by the Department's Executive Staff in the fall of September 2003. Each division continues to work on the employment initiatives described in the plan. A new plan is in the process of being developed for 2005-2006.
