For those with the lived experience of mental illness, employment can be a crucial component of their individual recovery. Work brings feelings of hope, self-determination, self-respect, social connections, responsibility and personal empowerment.
On behalf of the County of San Diego and in partnership with Corporation for Supportive Housing, the San Diego Workforce Partnership developed a Five-Year Strategic Employment Plan that focuses on the evidence-based practice of Supported Employment, and that highlights other promising models that are effective in increasing employment for those with the lived experience of serious mental illness.
The plan identifies several key goals that will become the foundation of the implementation plan. These goals are to:
- Increase opportunities for employment, income, length of employment and job retention for people with the lived experience of mental illness.
- Increase awareness of mental illness and address related stigma within the workplace and community.
- Increase and develop relationships with employers, businesses and the entrepreneurial sector.
- Identify and increase funding opportunities for employment, business, social enterprise-related initiatives and programs for people with lived experience of mental illness.
- Streamline navigation systems regarding employment and supportive services.
- Improve data collection, analysis and reporting capacity of service providers.
The County of San Diego welcomes your review and comments of the plan, which can be found at http://sandiego.camhsa.org. The review period ends Aug. 16, 2014.