The Voices Project

Department of Mental Health - Funding is important for Employment Connections.

The Department of Mental Health, earlier this year, provided funding for Employment Connections of Massachusetts to reach out  its' arms to provide employment counseling to people who have disabilities related to mental health, and are trying to work.

I feel Employment Connections is valuable program because it gave much needed help without compromising the individuality of each person. Many Careers Centers focus on resume writing, computer training, and preparing for the interviewing process.  This is very valuable.  However, this is not sufficient enough for most people dealing with mental illness.

Many people dealing with mental illnesses are motivated to work and re- enter the workforce. Rightfully so, they are concerned about their health.  And, they must also address matters dealing with their adjusting into an ever-changing changing community.  Sometimes, they may find that they may have a choppy work history, date wise, or other, maybe because of hospitalizations and other related factors.

Having a partnership between the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Workforce Development has provided an opportunity for people with mental illnesses to address these factors and to work along side Disability Counselors, finding answers and figuring out how they can find longevity in an employment position of interest.

I feel many factors are often over- looked making it difficult for the disabled to connect.  Recently, the Ticket to Work Program, put in effect by the Social Security Administration, to open doors in the community for those disabled and wanting to rejoin the work force.  Many want to take advantage of this program, but may not fully understand all the incentives, which are not really explained well.  So, therefore using Ticket to Work may not be easy to make into a workable plan.

Many people with the same Mental Illness Diagnosis may share many different symptoms during the course of lifetime.  Or, some people respond to like- symptoms in a very different way.  So, this is why, being paired up with someone, as  a Disability Counselor, who understands and is educated in Mental Health  Illnesses, and who is willing to sit down and discuss with each individual, his or her strengths, or weaknesses, proves so important. 

This program is an asset and greatly needed to provide a fair and constructive way for people to pursue their career and educational goals while dealing with mental illness, and other disabilities.

This blog is to advocate for the continuation of funding from the Department of Mental Health to the Work Force Development Department of Massachusetts, as Employment Connections, and similar programs.

Amara
Crittenton Women’s Union
Woman to Woman Program Participant

The Health Care System

My experience with the health care system has been poor.

One and a half years ago I had a right total knee replacement. I had difficulty with the anesthesia; I then had a new social worker who did not know the various rehabilitation facilities. She asked me where I wanted to go and gave me a few names of facilities, one of which I had worked at prior to my surgery and I wasn’t impressed. I declined; however, I was not totally alert due to the anesthesia. So my husband located a rehabilitation facility. I was at the rehab center for about three weeks. Once I was home I had home physical therapy until I was able to have out patient therapy, however there was a long delay for the out patient therapy because I wasn’t able to use The Ride.  I then developed severe pain on both of my upper arms and shoulders, and ended   up going to a Chronic Pain Facility on an out patient basis. After which I had  used up all of my allotted allowance of physical therapy, occupational therapy and Doctors visits. However, I was not improving and needed more therapy.  Today, I have improved, but I am not 100%.

I do not think insurance companies should be able to control the amount of sessions for individuals. Everyone is different; some may need more therapy than others. It has taken me about one year and a half to get to where I am today. I am still not one hundred percent.

H.B.H.
Crittenton Women’s Union
Woman to Woman Program Participant