Our Hidden Workforce

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Our Hidden Workforce

• World of Work Business Advisory Council
• a project of Behavioral Health Services North in
  cooperation with MHANYS through an OMH initiative

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Who We Are

• A partnership among businesses,
• our local mental health organization
• and consumers in order to reduce the
• unemployment rate in NYS.

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Why We Are

• Mission
• The goal of this initiative is to increase the
  rate of hire and retention of qualified workers
  living with a mental health diagnosis.

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Do You Find It Hardto Find Qualified Workers?

• In 2005, Site Selection magazine selected
  Plattsburgh as 4 in the top 100 US small cities
  for commercial industrial growth
• 1. Statesville, NC
• 2. Traverse City, MI
• 3. Cullman, AL
• 4. Plattsburgh, NY and Hutchinson, KS
• new or expanded facilities

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?Take
this quiz to see how you do! MYTH OR FACT?

• 1. People with mental illness are often violent.

• MYTH
• People with a mental illness are much more likely
  to be victims of violence than its cause.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 2. People with a mental illness can pull
  themselves out of it.

• MYTH
• A mental illness is not a personal weakness - nor
  can it be cured by personal strength. Proper
  treatment is needed.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 3. A mental illness may be a lifelong condition.

• FACT
• For some people, a mental illness may be a
  lifelong condition, like diabetes. But, as with
  diabetes, proper treatment enables many people
  with mental illness to lead fulfilling lives.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 4. A person with bipolar disorder has periods of
  normal energy and feelings.

• FACT
• A person with bipolar disorder has periods of
  manic behavior (lots of energy, wild behavior,
  racing thoughts), normal energy and feelings, as
  well as depression. Each period may last days or
  months.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 5. Anxiety disorders, Attention Deficit
  Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dementia (like
  Alzheimer's Disease) and eating disorders are
  common mental illnesses.

• FACT
• These disorders as well as phobias, general
  anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive
  disorders, personality disorders, and
  post-traumatic stress disorders are all common
  mental illnesses.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 6. People with mental illnesses need to be
  hospitalized.

• MYTH
• Most people with mental illnesses are treated as
  outpatients. However, for some, hospitalization
  is an effective part of a treatment plan.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 7. A mental illness is a health condition, much
  like heart disease or diabetes.

• FACT
• There are many causes of mental illness including
  birth trauma, chemical imbalances in the brain,
  early childhood trauma, and other biological,
  environmental, social and cultural factors.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?

• 8. People with mental illnesses cannot be a
  productive part of society.

• MYTH
• Right here in Clinton County, people diagnosed
  with a mental illness are returning to the world
  of work through supported employment programs,
  feeling good about themselves, what they do and
  are contributing members of our economic growth.
  They are many of the valuable employees in our
  workforce.

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• So Where Can You Look?

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Fact

• 20 of the population
• has a diagnosable mental disorder
• in any given year (Surgeon Generals Report
  2000).

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Untapped Workforcein Clinton County

• Pool of potential workers
• willing to work for you!

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Why is this an untapped pool of job seekers?

• S T I G M A
• Consumers have not had the community support to
  enter the workforce
• Lack of knowledge regarding mental illness

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Expand Your Knowledge! Mental Health Facts

• Up to 30 of the US population has a mental
  health disorder, substance abuse disorder or
  both
• Mental Illness is NOT a Full-Time Job
• Source National Mental Health Association

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Mental health problems can occur at any age.
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• Before I had bipolar disorder, I was an
  electrical engineer. Manic depression did not
  take that away from me - I still have that
  knowledge, those skills,
• and that experience.

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Mental Illness is not a Full-Time Job

• Work is about daily meaning
• as well as daily bread.
• - Studs Terkel

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Work gives people a sense of belonging and
community...a network of friends and colleagues.
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Goal Employment Retentionof Clinton Countys
untapped work force

• Linkages in our community
• Recruiting methods
• Pool of Consumers Self-linked
  Your
• Community Family
  Business
• Resources Unlimited

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Our objective is to strengthen the links

• How will we do that?
• Our Council will facilitate the identification of
  consumers wanting to work
• Our Council will identify businesses with the
  potential to offer them jobs.

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• Consumers
• with training
• Jobs identified by the Council
• Business
• Community

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Barriers to Hiring

• Gaps in the resume
• Fear of disclosure by the employee
• Disclosure frightens the employer
• Other STIGMA myths
• This person is crazy
• Theyre weak
• I cant count on them

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FACT

• Youre always taking a chance when youre
  hiring someone for a job

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Benefits of Hiring through the Council

• Through Supported Employment
• an applicant has already been pre-screened
• and is job-ready

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What is Supported Employment?

• 2 assessments VESID and Resources Unlimited
• Your potential employee is prepared for the World
  of Work
• Career interests are identified
• Mock interview
• Dress for Success
• Job coach available to the employer until
  employee AND the employer are comfortable with
  their relationship and the coach will be
  available as necessary.

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Benefits to Employers

• Job tryouts (VESID -Vocational Educational
  Services to Individuals with Disabilities)
• On the Job Training
• 90-day Internships (VESID)
• Continuous Support for the Employer
• Short-term skills training (computer courses,
  etc)
• Tax Credits

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Advantages of earning NYS Tax Credits

• No limit to the number of hires
• Employers decide whom to hire
• Minimal paperwork to claim tax credit
• Employers assist job seekers most in need of
  employment

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So Who Might Be My Potential Employees?

• These employees are recovering just like those
  with any illness
• They have a plan and they work it!

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180 Current Employersuse Supported Employment

• Anthonys Evergreen Valley Nursing Home
• Applebees Hospice PCS
• Battat Lindseys Price Chopper
• B H S N Lowes Primelink
• CCL Plastics Macro Sams Club
• Clinton County Nursing Home Sears
• Council on the Arts Meadowbrook Nursing Home
• CVPH Medical Center PACTIV Sodexho
• Dollar Store P A R C Wal Mart

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W O W
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World of Work Business Advisory Council

• The next time youre looking for a
• Qualified, Skilled Employee,
• think of us!

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Y O U can join our Council!!

• Susan Aley John Linney
• Marguerite Adelman John Masella
• Barbie Bezio Marilee Mintzer
• Bonnie Black Jaimie Marzullo
• Grace Fader Barbara Copeland Perry
• Rocky Harfield Kelly St. Clair
• Mary Krakowski Terri Winterbottom
• Ginny Larabee Barb Zelinski
• WOW Business Advisory Council
• a project of Behavioral Health Services North in
  cooperation with MHANYS through an OMH initiative