Supporting the Employment of People with Serious Mental Illness

Supported employment for persons with serious mental illness is a relatively new concept that encompasses a variety of models, philosophies, and orientations. Increasingly, supported employment services for persons with serious mental illness have become differentiated from programs serving other disability groups with greater emphasis on long-term support and less on job training. Six models of supported employment continue to be used for persons with serious mental illness including: (1) enclaves, (2) mobile work crews, (3) dispersed groups or clusters, (4) entrepreneurial models, (5) individual models, and (6) transitional employment. Supported employment is a service recognized and funded by Employment of People with Serious Mental Illness VR and now includes: (1) assessment, (2) job development, (3) job placement, (4) job training and support, and (5) extended services. A number of best practices have been discussed in this chapter. They include: (1) accelerated placement, (2) career-focus and career recovery approaches, (3) self-determination and consumer ownership, (4) ecological services and supports, (5) peer support mechanisms, (6) responsive and integrated service provision, and (7) ongoing supports and support building. The challenge for supported employment providers will be to implement these best practices for persons with serious mental illness who need more flexible and intense levels of extended services.