For more than 30 years, Interim has recognized that employment is an important part of mental health recovery. A job can provide income, but it can also build purpose, confidence, independence, routine, and connection to the community.
That commitment is entering a new chapter as Interim begins implementing Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with fidelity. IPS is an evidence based approach to supported employment that helps people pursue competitive jobs based on their individual strengths, interests, and goals. Rather than asking someone to prove they are “ready” to work, IPS begins with a much simpler idea: if a person wants to work, they should have the opportunity and support to pursue it.
What Makes IPS Different?
This summer, Interim officially kicked off its IPS implementation alongside Monterey County Behavioral Health. Interim leadership and the Supported Education and Employment Services (SEES) team joined County leadership and staff for training with specialists from the California Center of Excellence at the IPS Employment Center.
Staff explored the eight core principles of IPS, including rapid job search, individual preferences, personalized benefits planning, ongoing job support, and the integration of employment and behavioral health services. The learning also moved beyond the classroom. Employment staff went into the community to practice developing relationships with local employers based on the job interests of the people they serve.
While the formal implementation of IPS is new, its philosophy is familiar to Interim. The agency’s commitment to employment services dates back to the early 1980s, when the Sunflour Cookie Company gave clients opportunities to gain skills and work experience. Interim established SEES in 1996 to support individuals pursuing education and meaningful employment, and since 2017, the program has incorporated many elements of IPS into its services.
Implementing the full IPS model will happen in phases and builds on decades of experience. Through continued partnership with Monterey County Behavioral Health, Interim is strengthening an approach that recognizes employment not simply as an outcome, but as a meaningful part of recovery.
For the people Interim serves, IPS begins with a simple question: What kind of work do you want to do? From there, the goal is to help turn that answer into an opportunity.
Learn more about Interim’s SEES program and how SEES helps individuals pursue their education and employment goals.Â