Employment Support in VA Housing First...

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EmploymentSupportInVAHousingFirstProgramsAnImportantStepinEndingVeteransHomelessnessGlenOsowski,USMC,RET,VocaEonalSpecialistShawnDowling,LISW-S,ACSW,HCHVCoordinator

DATE/MONTHMarch2017

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Homelessness Amongst Veterans

•  Homelessnessistheendresultofproblemsthatanindividual/familycannotresolvewithoutassistance

•  Everyonedealswithstressorsandchallengesdifferently

•  ReallynowaytopredicthoworwhenaHomelessorVeteranwillrealizethathe/sheneedshelp

•  ResearchindicatesthatthemajorityofVietnamVeteransdidnotrequesthelpunEl8-12yearsaWertheirdischarge

•  VeteransareHomelessataHigherRateThanTheirNon-VeteranCounterparts

•  VeteransareHomelessLongerThanTheirNon-VeteranCounterparts

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

3 Major Reasons for Homelessness Amongst Veterans

•  EconomicHardship;usuallyinvolveemploymentissuesandmounEngdebt

•  LackofAffordableHousing;Thecostofhousingmakesitunlikelyforasingle-wageearnertobeabletoaffordacomfortableandsaferentalunit

•  HealthIssues;uptoonethirdofcombatveteransarelikelytoexperiencesomeclinicaldegreeofdepression,post-traumaEcstressdisorder(PTSD)orotheremoEonal/psychologicaldifficulEesdirectlyrelatedtotheirmilitaryexperience(VAIraqWarClinicianGuide,2004).

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Impact of Military Service/Employment

•  ProlongedseparaEonfromtradiEonalsupport•  HighlystressfultrainingandoccupaEonaldemands

•  Non-transferabilityofsomemilitaryoccupaEonalspecialEesintothecivilianworkforce

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Obtain Steady Gainful Employment •  ManymilitaryoccupaEonalspecialEesduringwarEme–weapons

specialists,muniEonshandlers,doorgunnersonhelicoptersandinfantrymen–arenottransferabletotheciviliansector

•  TransferablemilitaryoccupaEonsofyoungerveterans–warehousemen,clericalandfoodserviceworkers,healthcareassistantsandlowerlevelworkerswithlimitedexperience–areonthelowendofthewagescale

•  VeteransmaybecompeEngforrareemploymentopportuniEeswithcivilianswhohavemoresite-basedtrainingormorepersonalcontactwithpotenEalemployersandtheircrewsorstaff

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Gainful Employment At A Living Wage

•  GainfulemploymentatalivablewagewithopportuniEesforadvancementisthefoundaEonformaintainingeconomicstabilityandreducingtheriskofhomelessness

•  Thosewhomustrelysolelyontheirownincomestosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies,economicpressuresarecompoundedbythedifficultyofpayingforandaaendingeducaEonalprogramstoimprovetheirearningpotenEal

•  Singleheadsofhousehold,theissueofpayingtuiEonandfeesisoWennotasprohibiEveaschildcareandothernecessaryexpensesassociatedwithgoingbacktoschool

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Supportive Services/ Supported Employment

•  TheVAAnnArborHUD-VASupportedHousingPrograminconjuncEonwithLucasMetropolitanHousingAuthority,LucasCountyVeteransServiceCommissionandVeteran’sMaaerhavehoused170VeteransHomelessVeteransinLucasCountyin2015-2016.

•  TheVAAnnArborHealthcareforHomelessVeteransprograminconjuncEonwithNaEonalChurchResidence,LucasMetropolitanHousingAuthority,LucasCountyVeteransServiceCommissionandVeteransMaaerhavehoused75HomelessoratRiskofHomelessnessVeteransbetweenOctober2015throughDecember2015

•  OftheVeteransintheseprogram,thoseVeteranswhoareabletowork,52%areworkingincompeEEveemployment(FYTD16)

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Supportive Services/ Supported Employment

•  VAAnnArborHealthcareforHomelessVeteransprogrampartnerswithNeighborhoodProperEesInc.fortheGriffinStreetProject,whereourHomelessVeteranswithseverementalillnessreceiveservicerichtransiEonalhousing;

•  Weareproudtosharethat50%ofemploymenteligibleVeteranswereworkingincompeEEveemploymentatexitfromtheprogram(FYTD16).

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Supportive Services/ Supported Employment

•  ReachingFuncDonalZero;AnyHomelessVeteranwhopresentsinourcommunitywillhaveaclearpathtopermanenthousing

•  CompeEEveemploymentiskeytoexiEngHomelessVeteransfromsheltertopermanenthousingandmaintainingthathousing

•  WerecognizethatcreaEngemploymentopportuniEesforHomelessVeteranstakesacoordinatedapproachwhereintegraEonofevidencedbasedbestpracEcesareparamounttoourVeterans’success(bothforhousingandemployment)

•  SupportedEmploymentisrecovery-orientated,consumerdriven,empowering-usingrealsocialsituaEonstolearnfromandlastly,itisindividualplacementandsupport(IPS)

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NotLehnghomelessnessgetintheway

FindingJobsforVeterans

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Vocational Path

School

Part-EmeorSeasonal

EntryLevel 2ndEntryLevel

Relocate/Transfer

Mid-LevelPromoEon Trainings

NextJob

DreamJob?

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Vocational Interventions

TradiDonalApproach•  Lengthypre-assessment•  Training,train-place

philosophy•  Trialwork•  Shelteredworkshops,

structure,andprotecEon

SupportedEmployment•  Recovery-oriented•  Consumerdriven•  Empowering,realsocial

situaEonstolearnfrom•  Place-train•  IndividualPlacementand

Support(IPS)

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

IPS Effectiveness

ParEcipantsachievedameancompeEEveemploymentrateof60%,comparedto24%receivingtradiEonalvocaEonalservices(over12-18months)

(Bond,Drake,&Becker,2008)

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Outcomes •  Overan8-yearperiod,thenumberofclientsservedinIPSonaquarterlybasishasgrownfrom792-9,359.

Becker,Drake,&Bond,BenchmarkOutcomesinSupportedEmployment,AmericanJournalofPsychiatricRehabilitaEon,2011.

•  Thenumberofemployedquarterlyhasincreasedfrom299-3,875.

Meanemploymentrateover32

quarterswas47%,rangingfrom38%to

apeakof55%

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Practice Principles

1.)Zero-ExclusionPolicy2.)IntegratedEmployment&Treatment

3.)CompeEEveJobs4.)RapidJob-Search

5.)SystemaEcJobDevelopment

6.)Time-UnlimitedSupport7.)ConsumerPreferences8.)BenefitsPlanning

Becker,andDrake,2003

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Zero Exclusion Criteria All clients who want to work are eligible

•  Psychiatricdiagnosis•  Symptoms•  Treatmentchoices•  Workhistory•  Legalhistory

•  Substanceabuse•  CogniEveimpairment

•  CogniEveproblems•  Missedappointments

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Integrated Employment & Treatment Open communication between providers is vital

•  SEspecialistembeddedonmulE-disciplinarytreatmentteams•  Shareddecisionmaking,withtheclientatthecenter•  Gehngajobisapartoftreatment,andchangestoserviceplansmaybenecessary

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

COMPETITIVE JOBS Integrated work settings

•  NotprevocaEonal,sheltered,orsegregatedworkexperiences

•  RegularjobsinthecommunityratherthanjobsthataresetasideforpeoplewithdisabiliEes

•  Don'tincludearEficialEmelimits•  Payatleastminimumwage•  SamepayandbenefitsforeveryonewhoholdsthoseposiEons

•  Part-Emeorfull-Eme

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Rapid Job Search Contact with potential employers & job exploration is conducted within the first month of referral

•  Nodelayfortrainingorassessmentprocedures•  Clientshavestrengthsandskillstotaketothejob,alreadyready

•  DemonstratesthatpracEEonersaretakingtheirclients’goalsseriously

•  ExploringjobsinthecommunityisonewaytotakeadvantageofmoEvaEon:peoplegetexcitedastheyseethepossibiliEes

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Systematic Job Development Job search is very specific

•  DevelopingrelaEonshipswithpotenEalemployers

•  Learningmoreabouttheneedsandpreferencesofacompanyto“jobcarve”

•  ApplyingtojobposEngs,andfollowingupwithhiringmanagerinperson

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Time-Unlimited Support Individualized support for as long as needed, or desired

•  SupportmaybeemoEonalinnature,ortroubleshooEngworkplacedifficulEes•  NosetEmeframelimiEngparEcipaEon•  JobinterestsmayevolveoverEme,newopportuniEesmaybedesired

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Client Preferences Strongly influence all aspects of the job search process

•  Findingajobthatfitstheperson,NOTchangingthepersontofitthejob

•  Jobsearchmustembraceaperson'svalues,interests,andownwayofdoingthings

•  Disclosureofillness•  Whattypeofassistancedotheywant?•  VAP

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Potential Barriers

•  Fear/anxiety•  Benefits

•  TransportaEon•  Legalissues•  Workhistory

STRENGTHS,GAPSANDCHALLENGESFORHOMELESSVETERANSEMPLOYMENTINOURCOMMUNITY

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

VA MISSION Lincoln’sCharge,1865~

“Tocareforhimwhoshallhavebornethebaale,andforhiswidowandhisorphan.”

Today~

“Tocareforthosewhoshallhavebornethebaale,andfortheirfamiliesandtheirsurvivors.”

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

FACTS •  DepartmentofDefensefocusedontrainingtroopsforwar

anditfallsoncommuniEestohelpmilitarymenandwomenhelptransiEontocivilianemployment

•  Only17%ofthosethatentertheservicestayunElreErement.•  TheVeteranunemploymentrateforthosewhoservedaWer

9/11is6.5percentasopposedto4.9percentforallotherVeteranswhichissimilarrateforallAmericans.

•  AsthemilitarydownsizesarenewedfocusonhelpingVeteransfindjobs.

•  Two-thirdsofVeteransexperiencedadifficulttransiEonfrommilitarytocivilianlife

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

FACTS •  Veteransnamefindingajobasthegreatestchallengein

transiEoning•  MilitaryVeteransarehighlydisciplinedandhighlytrained.•  Veteranshavetroublefindingandkeepingjobsandcivilian

employersstruggletounderstandthem.•  Studiesanddatasupportthatnon-Veteransaremoreviolent

offendersthanVeterans•  SomeVeteransneedlongtermsupportbutthevastmajority

don’tneednorwantahandout,theyjustneedahandshake.

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

“RightnowtomeIammorescaredofsihnginaninterviewroomgehnginterviewedforajob,thenwhenIhadpeople

shootatme.”

-USArmyVeteran

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Toledo Veteran Challenges to Employment

•  Food,Clothing,PersonalHygiene•  RemovinglegalissuestoincludefelonyconvicEons,criminalcharges,taxissues,familyandchildsupport,lossofdrivingprivilegesandconsumerdebt

•  GeographicalOpportuniEesandTransportaEon

•  PhysicalandMentalhealthchallenges•  TransferringmilitaryskillsandtrainingtocivilianworkforceorcerEficaEons

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Toledo Veteran Challenges to Employment

•  SupportortrainingfortransiEonalchallenges•  Culturalbarriers–Militarymodelofsupport,Veteranbeliefsaboutemployers

•  CompeEngwithcandidatesandeducaEon•  Veterandriven•  Telephone,Computerhardware,computercompetencyandinternetaccess

•  CurrenteconomicsituaEon

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

“CommunitycollaboraEonhasbeenidenEfiedasthesinglemosteffecEvemeansofenhancingthequalityofandulEmatesuccessofemploymentandvocaEonal

trainingprogramsandservices.”-DepartmentofLaborNaDonalCoaliDonforHomeless

Veterans

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES NearlyhalfofallVeteranjobseekers

reportneeding“ALot”ofhelp•  Networking•  Skillsin“closing”ajobinterviewandInterviewskills•  TargeEngemployersandresearchingcompanies•  EffecEveresumewriEngandwriEngacoverleaer•  Preparingforajobinterview•  Followingupwithinterviews•  ImprovingtransiEoningsupportearlier

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES

•  Training–Post9-11notchoosingperceivedcivilianvocaEons•  Smallgrouptraining•  VeteransexpressstronginterestinpotenEalcustomized

programs•  VeteranshavehighexpectaEonsforemployer-provided

supportprograms–thisisNOTenEtlement•  EducaEonandVocaEonalTraining•  Employernetworkwithroundtablequarterlyfeedback

meeEng

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

WecanpreventnotjusttreathomelessnessamongVeterans.

VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

A Community-Wide Action To End Veterans Homelessness

•  CoordinatedefforttoconnectHomelessVeteranswithimmediate,“rightfit”employmentwithsupportedservices

•  CoordinatedefforttoplaceHomelessVeteransinjobtrainingprogramsthatenhanceskillsandleaddirectlytocompeEEveemployment

•  UElizaEonofFederal,State,CountyandCityresourcesincoordinaEon;avoidingduplicaEonofservicetoprovideaNoWrongDoorapproachtovocaEonalandemploymentservices

•  ConveneaworkgroupofkeystakeholderstocreateclearaccesstocompeEEveemploymentthatassureseachHomelessVeterancanaffordtoliveautonomously

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Bibliography

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Bibliography

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

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VETERANSHEALTHADMINISTRATION

Bibliography

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