Evaluation of the Kick-Off Event

The Kick-Off Event, held March 4th and 5th, 1999 was attended by 112 persons. Of these, 68 questionnaires were completed of which 67 are used in this summary. The data suggest the event was successful in that a large majority of persons reported having an increased understanding of both the IPS model and how the project will work.
 
 

• WHO ATTENDED?
• 33% Consumer                                        6% Family member of consumer
• 12% Foster family of a consumer             3%  Member of the business community

• 25% Josephine County Mental Health agency or Options staff member
• 10% Staff of other agency providing services to consumers
• 2%   Staff of other agencies in the county
• 9%   Other

30% were members of a group working on the project.   Most (73%) attended both days, attending an average of 7.3 hours.
61 % attended the full 9 hours.
 

SOME OF THE ANSWERS.

Following the kick off event, two thirds reported feeling optimistic about solving problems facing consumers who want to find work, two thirds felt the model could be successfully adapted in Josephine County, and two thirds reported an increased understanding in how the project will work, though 20% were perhaps still unclear about their particular role in the project.
Three fourths of the folks reported an increased understanding of IPS, with 80% reporting an increased understanding of how the program provides support to consumers.  63 % felt they better understood how agencies might change. More than three quarters reported having a greater understanding of the concerns expressed by others in their groups.
 

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS:

A clear pattern emerged in the comments made at the end of the evaluation form.  The five most frequently mentioned concerns (totaling 46 comments) about bow the model might work were:

• Loss of benefits and the need to train staff about benefits... 13
• Convincing and educating employers... 12
• Loss of day treatment programs ... 9
• Availability of good jobs ... 7
• Increased stress for consumers including concern about stress in foster homes ... 5

• Concern that there might not be funds to implement the program which will be designed ...8
• Concern about lack of representation from the business and larger community ... 5
• Getting support from Mental Health professionals and agencies ... 3

9:00 - 9:15 Welcome, brief overview of project & Kickoff activities, questionnaires,housekeeping announcements

9:15 - 9:30  State level perspective on employment  -  Bob Nikkel

9:30 - 10:30  Stereotypes about people with mental illness and work; A panel discussion of employment issues from
consumer,  family, business and service provider perspectives.    Facilitated by OCTA

10:30- 10:45 Break

10:45 - 12:00 Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Model - Deborah Becker

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:15 How another program incorporated the IPS Model - Regina Mix & Thomas White

2:15 - 2:30 Wrap-up
 

 
9:00 - 9:30 Orientation to Project & Research Evaluation - Charlene Phipps & Cecile Baril

9:30 - 10:30 Breakout groups for discussion by interest -  consumers, family members, social service staff, etc.

10:30 - 10:45 Break

10:45 - 11:45 Making IPS work: Panel discussion with Deborah Becker, Regina Mix, Thomas White

11:45 - 12:00 Wrap-up
 

Deborah Becker M.A., a senior research associate at the New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, is a nationally know expert in the field of vocational rehabilitation for adults with psychiatric disabilities. She has lectured and written extensively about the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment.
 
 

Regina Mix, BSW, is currently a program director for West Central Services in New Hampshire. She has had extensive
experience implementing and supervising an IPS program in rural New Hampshire.
 
 

Thomas White, a consumer from rural New Hampshire has utilized IPS services from West Central Services.
 
 

Miriam Gershow is the resource and communication coordinator and Kevin Fitts the program manager of the Office of Consumer Technical Assistance (OCTA). Miriam and Kevin have had extensive experience as mental health service providers and as consumers. OCTA is a consumer-run organization affiliated with Network Behavioral HealthCare, primarily funded by the Oregon Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Services Division. OCTA's mission is to assist consumers in developing programs in their local communities and increasing consumer involvement in mental health provider systems and policy development and implementation at local, state and federal levels.
 
 

Bob Nikkel is the Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Oregon Office of Mental Health Services .