Supported Employment

Operating on the principle that every individual, regardless of his/her disabilities has the capacity to learn, to work and to contribute to his or her community, Pathways provides consumers with unique employment opportunities, which provide normalizing roles that improve the quality of their lives.  The long-term goals are to support clients in improving the quality of their lives by increasing their self-sufficiency and income, in the hope of ultimately transitioning them off public benefits.

It is clear that for the mentally ill, employment can enhance recovery and community reintegration. Pathways' Supported Employment program is founded on the principles of Individualized Placement and Support, and is incorporated into the daily practice of our Assertive Community Treatment Teams. Under the guidance of each Team’s Vocational Specialist, a comprehensive array of vocational services including: vocational assessment, benefits counseling, job development, and job coaching are provided. An individualized vocational plan is formulated that is client centered with a focus on achieving competitive employment. Clients are assisted in choosing careers rather than just jobs.

Currently, Pathways to Housing is one of 20 sites across the country participating in the Mental Health Treatment Study, sponsored by the Social Security Administration.  The MHTS is a research project that seeks to help people with psychiatric disabilities return to work by providing them with employment supports and mental health treatment.  The MHTS seeks to study two groups of people, all receiving SSDI and desiring to return to work.  A special services group will receive (at no cost), supported employment services and mental health treatments.  The regular services group will receive a resource manual listing valuable services in their community.  People on the regular services group will be paid for their time.  As little is known about the impact of providing access to treatment and services to SSDI beneficiaries with mental impairments, we are hoping this study will affect national policy on work and disability, as well as to help us understand what SSDI beneficiaries need to get and keep a good job.

For more information about the Mental Health Treatment Study, please click here.