Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness
Begins April 6, 2009 - Registration will be available after January 1, 2009
$175 per individual
Overview of the Course
There are six lessons in this course. Each lesson will consist of audio lectures, a discussion question, and a quiz or homework assignment. You must finish the assignments for a lesson within the specified time frame in order to receive a certificate of completion from Virginia Commonwealth University. Sessions will include information on these topics:
- evidence-based practice and research base,
- career development,
- customer choice,
- cultural competency,
- marketing and job development,
- developing business partnerships,
- interagency collaboration,
- self-employment,
- workplace supports / computer supports,
- social security work incentives, and
- funding
Lesson 1: Overview and Research Base of Supported Employment
Evidence Based Practice Research
Individual Placement and Support Model
Lesson 2: Building Relationships with Business
Marketing
Marketing Analysis
Educating Employers
Lesson 3: Establishing a Career Direction
Overview of Mental Illness and Customer Support Needs
Formal and Informal Assessment Strategies
Customer Involvement in the Career Identification Process
Cultural Competency
Lesson 4: Job Development
Customer Involvement in the Job Development Process
Job Analysis
Pre-employment Process (e.g. interviews, disclosure, etc.)
Self-employment Options
Lesson 5: Employment Support
Compensatory Strategies
Natural Supports and Building Coworker Relationships
Job Coach Intervention
On-site vs. Off Site Support
On-going Support and Follow-along services
Lesson 6: Benefits Counseling and Other Special Topics
Ticket to Work and Outcome Based Funding
SSI and SSDI
Work Incentives
Sample Course Lectures
- Supported Employment, Dr. Robert Drake & Dr. Paul Wehman
- The Supported Employment Fidelity Scale, Dr. Gary Bond
- The Employment Intervention Demonstration Program, Dr. Judith Cook
- Customer Profile & Establishing a Career Direction, Dr. Inge & Dennis Born
- The Customer's Perspective, Interviews from the Individual's Viewpoint
- Marketing & Job Development, Pam Targett and Dr. Amy Armstrong
- Workplace Supports & Compensatory Strategies, Laurie Ford
- Funding, Grant Revell & Dan O'Brien
- Social Security Work Incentives, Jennifer McDonough
- Cultural Competency, Dr. Ernest Quimby
System Requirements - Your computer must have a sound card, speakers, Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software), and RealPlayer (free software). Each participant MUST have his or her own e-mail address and Internet access. We cannot correspond with participants through an e-mail address that is assigned to another person. If the individual does not already have an account, a free one can be set up through Hotmail. We send updates on the course activities and feedback on course activities through e-mail contact. Participants must be able to receive and send messages in order to benefit from this online experience.
VCU-RRTC staff are available to provide technical assistance on how to use the Internet for distanced education. Transcripts are posted for all online audio lectures.
If you have questions about the technology applications, please contact: Andrew Croot at (804) 828-8378 or Doug Erickson at (804) 827-0760. If you have content questions, please email Katherine Inge.
