Lesson 1: Workforce Development System: The Systems We Work In

Attention

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify the systems, resources and roles of people involved in finding and obtaining employment for consumers with psychiatric and other disabilities.

Teaching

Systems We Work With

An important framing concept for our discussion that will contribute to a better understanding of this topic and  I believe it is the basis for living a balanced successful life.  The people in the world who enjoy living have learned this balance and while at times they may need the intervention of a professional they for the most part enjoy life. They function as a healthy balanced individual in society and thrive by interacting, using and cooperating with the systems that support their existence. This concept is called systems theory. 

All people...  live in, cooperate with, support and adapt to multiple systems on a daily basis.  Some systems we are conscious of, others operate behind the scenes.  People naturally adapt to the systems that provide support, nurturing and sustenance.  Babies adapt to their nurturing mothers and families.  Plants adapt to environments with sun, water and suitable nutrients. 

You, as a student in this class are adapting to the class online structure, the policies and expectations of the class objectives and the social aspect of introducing yourself and interacting with other students in the discussion board.  Some of you may have identified disabilities and others not.  .  Most of you are in the process of learning how to adapt to the systems you interact with on a daily basis.  It is important for you to get in touch with your own adaptability which will give you insight into how individuals with severe disabilities learn to adapt.

The reality is that a significant number of individuals with disabilities have full access to our society without the aid of community based services. They have learned on their own how to adapt to and integrate into the systems they need to survive.  The Americans with Disability Act  (http://www.ada.gov ) passed in 1992 provides a solid basis for this integration and our continued commitment as a society to removing societal [system] barriers for individuals with disabilities Many individuals with severe disabilities have a more difficult time adapting to the various systems they must access to meet their needs.  This situation may prevent or decrease their ability to access what they want and need, including: community parks and walkways, public buildings, public services or employment with an organization in the community. 

For these individuals, community rehabilitation professionals are there to provide the guidance and information to overcome those barriers and obtain full access.  The role of a rehabilitation professional working in the employment sector is to help each consumer find and adapt to a job within their interests, skills and functional capacity. Understanding vocational aspects of disabilities provides the knowledge required to access employers with jobs.   They do this by understanding the consumers vocational profile, teaching them the rules, tasks and roles of the various employer systems and providing support as needed to maintain the position when found.

 
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What are the workforce development systems that currently contribute to the process of people with disabilities getting employed? There are four major systems: State Vocational Rehabilitation ; Community Psychosocial Rehabilitation; Supported Employment and General Education and Training K-12.

Each of these systems categorizes individuals with disabilities as a student, participant, customer or consumer who will benefit from the services provided.  However each uses different approaches that complement each other.   It is important for rehab professionals working as case managers, employment specialists, job coaches or related positions to understand the structure and purpose of each of these systems.  This will help with understanding the vocational profile of the individual with disabilities including the systems they have experience with and those they are learning to adapt to.

Is a service within the Maine Department called The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, also known as "VR,".  It is a Department of Labor program that helps people who have disabilities to find and keep a job. VR helps people who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

  • Psychosocial Rehabilitation - http://www.psychosocial.com (PSR) is a program structure and theory that when understood facilitates adults and children who have experienced problems in living and functioning on a day-to-day basis with a psychiatric illnesses.   Psychosocial Rehabilitation is the process of facilitating an individual's restoration and recovery to an optimal level of independent functioning in the community. While the nature of the process and the methods used differ in different settings, psychosocial rehabilitation invariably encourages people to participate actively with others in the attainment of mental health and social competence goals. The process emphasizes the wholeness and wellness of the individual and seeks a comprehensive approach to the provision of vocational, residential, social/recreational, educational and personal adjustment services.
  • Supported Employment - Supported employment is an alternative to traditional sheltered and competitive employment approaches. It is an attempt to meet the specific needs of individuals with severe disabilities and is based on fundamentally different principles and assumptions. The supported work model assumes that all individuals, regardless of the nature or extent of their disabilities, should have the opportunity and support to work in the community. There are no pre-requisite skills needed for community job success. The task, therefore, is not to identify and place "work ready" individuals, but rather to locate and/or modify meaningful jobs in the community and provide training and supports at the job site.
  • The K-12 public school systems the primary goal of public education is to teach academic skills including math, reading, science, physical education and language in order to function in society.  In high school we begin to focus on work by choosing a course of study that involves pre college or general.  Then we graduate and go on the college, the military and/or a job. This where most citizens experience and learn the stages of employability development which is outlined briefly below.
      • Socialization to Work – Learned in the home and K-12 Educational system
        • Work Role Orientation learned           
            • Value Work as an activity
            • See Self as Worker
            • Expects to succeed in the World of Work
      • Acquisition of Work – Starts with a first job and continues.
        • Career Decision Making process begun
            • Self Assessment – What am I good at.
            • Knowledge/preliminary indication of work conformance expectations
            • Knowledge of Labor Market Information
            • Knowledge of Occupational Information
            • Career Exploration and decision making
        • Meeting Entry Level Requirements
            • Skills
            • Knowledge
            • Attitudes
            • Certifications
        • Job Getting
          • Locating openings
            • Writing applications, resume
            • Interviewing
      • Maintenance of Work – Maintaining a job until it is time to move on.
        • Conformance to work rules
            • Attendance punctuality
            • Appearance, behavior language
            • Attitude to supervisor, co-workers, etc.
        • Performance
            • Follow instructions, ask questions, keep busy
            • Work independently
            • Satisfactory technical skills
        • Satisfaction
            • Satisfactory interpersonal relationships
            • Skilled performance
            • Satisfaction with job
      • Adaptation to the Labor Market
        • Orientation to Change
            • Acquisition of new position
            • Identify goal and meet requirements
            • Get new position

For students with severe disabilities, special education services are provided through elementary and high school.  These services offer specific individualized programming through the IEP process or Individual Education Plan and then bridge to community living and employment through Transition Rehabilitation Counselors. 
For adult citizens with disabilities, those who did not have or require special education and those who have sustained or acquired a disability in adulthood, they may require individualized assistance to adapt to living in the community.  For those who cannot adapt on their own, various services are available to assist them job coaching, one on one assistance, additional training and support the State Vocational Rehabilitation provides this assistance with a concept called Supported Employment.

The Workforce Development Comparison Chart  provides an overview of these systems.  In reviewing the chart pay particular attention to the 4 systems described in the each column. Following down the column you will see the process for developing work skills and knowledge that eventually lead to employment in the last row of each column.  This is not designed to be an exhaustive presentation on all the possible systems for preparing individuals with disabilities for employment but it does represent the major categories. Other specific 

Assessment

Lesson 1 Discussion

Review the bullet point list in the Teaching section starting with Socialization to Work. Of the items on this list which are YOU concerned about in terms of your ability to navigate the world of work once you graduate? How might this concern make you a better mental health worker when you are dealing with your clients?

Lesson 1 Quiz

Answer the following questions in the quiz titled "Lesson 1 Assessment"

  1. Which system or systems is MHRT/C work done in?  
  2. Describe the role a rehabilitation professional performs as he or she interacts with these systems.