Ohio Department of Mental Health Consumer Employment

Consumer Employment

Work can be a big boost to a person’s recovery.  Not only does a job help pay the bills, it can also provide a person with a sense of pride and belonging. It offers opportunities to connect with others socially.  Unfortunately, the current rate of employment among people with mental illness is very low despite research evidence that strongly supports the critical impact that work plays in promoting recovery. 

The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) is committed to helping consumers of mental health services locate, obtain and maintain employment. Through its Office of Community Supports and Clients Rights, ODMH supports technical assistance, consultation and training on employment to mental health provider organizations and consumer operated peer centers. 

ODMH/ORSC Statewide Employment Committee

Consumer Operated Services Tool Kit on Employment
and Ending Poverty

Through a TSIG funded grant The Main Place, a Consumer Operated Services (COS) organization, developed a non-proprietary curriculum and training materials that can be used by COS organizations statewide to address issues related the impact of poverty on the recovery of adults experiencing serious and persistent mental illness, as well as encourage consumers in obtaining employment. The working title for the Tool Kit is "Livin' the Dream". The Main Place trained staff and consumer volunteers as facilitators to implement the curriculum in Licking and Knox Counties. Consumers throughout the state can now have access to the workbooks for programming and services in their own communities.

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Supported Employment Evidence-Based Practice

Supported Employment (SE) is an evidence-based practice that helps people with severe and persistent mental illness identify, acquire and maintain competitive employment in their communities. SE is assertive about helping people find the work they want as soon as they express a desire to become employed. SE increases employment in competitive jobs, the number of hours worked, and the amount of income earned in competitive jobs for people with mental illnesses. There are seven core principles that make the evidence-based SE model different from other vocational programs:

  1. Zero Exclusion Policy
  2. Consumer Preferences are Important
  3. Rapid Job Search
  4. A Competitive Job is the Goal
  5. Employment is integrated with Mental Health Services
  6. Time-Unlimited Support
  7. Personalized Benefits Planning

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NAMI Supported Employment Family Advocacy Project

This collaboration between NAMI Ohio and the Ohio Department of Mental Health engages families of individuals with mental illness to advocate for, create and expand high-quality Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programs. Family involvement can strengthen the partnerships between providers, family members and consumers around SE services. Contact NAMI Ohio Associate Executive Director Betsy Johnson at (614) 224-2700 voice; (614) 224-1498 TTY; 1-800-686-AMIO toll-free voice or 1-866-924-1478 toll-free TTY; or visit online at www.namiohio.org.

Supported Employment Family Advocacy Summit Toolkit
NOTE: The Toolkit has been divided into three separate sections due to the large size of the file. Each section may take a few minutes to download.

State Resources

Help Finding a Job

Supported Employment

Consumer Benefits

National Resources

Supported Employment

Consumer Benefits

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