San Francisco City and County, CA
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) incorporates vocational services within its mental health programming through Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding. These services ensure that individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues are able to secure meaningful, long-term employment. Research shows that supported employment programs help individuals with mental illness achieve and sustain recovery. In collaboration with The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), SFDPH has identified a need for various training and employment support programs to meet the current labor market trends and employment skill-sets necessary to succeed in the competitive workforce. These vocational programs and services includes vocational skill development and training, career/situational assessments, vocational planning and counseling, service coordination, direct job placement, ongoing job coaching, and job retention services. The outcomes that each program measures and works towards are the following:
- Increase consumer awareness about behavioral resources, vocational services, educational programs, employment programs and employment opportunities in the community
- Increase consumers’ soft skills and job readiness skills
- Increase consumers’ understanding of work-related income and entitlement benefits
- Increase consumers’ self-confidence and wellness
- Increase consumers’ job satisfaction.
- Increase the number of consumers advancing from supported employment to a competitive employment position.
- Increase the number of consumers advancing to a leadership role or finding a higher level employment opportunity.
- Increase the number of consumers securing employment in the civil service sector.
- Increase consumer participation and consumer input in all areas of program development, policy development, implementation, budgeting, and evaluation.
Contact:
Ms. Teresa Yu
MHSA Program Manager
