IPS program helps people with mental illness find suitable, compatible workplaces

By: 
Greg Forbes

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A new resource in Franklin County aims to help people with mental illness find employment.
Individual Placement Support (IPS), a program offered by the North Iowa Vocational Center in the Franklin County office at the CICS building, links individuals diagnosed with a mental illness with area employers for employment opportunities.
Hope Polk, IPS Employment Coordinator with NIVC, said that the job-seeking process begins immediately once a client is aligned with IPS services. Typically, Polk said an individual linked with NIVC for job opportunities would be assigned to “traditional services” which is a slower process to prepare the individual for employment.
With IPS, Polk said “It’s been founded that an expedited service with a mental health diagnosis is best with most individuals,” she said. “It helps alleviate a little bit of the mental health stress they may be going through to get them into a job, let them be part of the community again and provide for them-selves.” IPS also comes with a mental health team consisting of a mental health therapist, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services case work-er, Integrated Health Case Manager and IPS Employment Coordinator to help create a 360 support to the clients in the IPS program. This mental health team meets weekly to help support the IPS client.
Implemented in the area in January, Polk said the program has helped nine individuals find 11 jobs. Polk’s average time with a client to reach employment status is 49 days. She said she’ll work with the individual to not only find a job that fits their skill set, but find a working environment that is supportive and allows the individual to thrive.
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