Successful Employment Program
The Successful Employment Program (SEP) is a vocational program designed to support young adults dealing with mental health issues. We focus on building career paths by developing the young adult’s abilities in their first experiences working. SEP collaborates closely with other providers to offer vocational, social and educational opportunities. SEP does not hold sheltered workshops, nor does it produce contracts with employers. Its mission is to teach young adults how to be more independent through the process and experience of searching for and obtaining employment. It is the program’s philosophy that working in the community is a vital piece of the recovery process.
New SEP members are accepted into the program 3-4 times per year by attending the six week employment skills/orientation group. The group introduces young adults to the basic skills needed to find their first jobs and succeed in the workplace. Skills covered include the application process, cold and follow-up calls, interviewing techniques, workplace expectations and more.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
A referral form needs to be submitted by a professional: therapist, case manager, psychiatrist, school counselor, or other community program. An interview is set up shortly after the referral has been made to determine appropriateness of the candidate. If the candidate is accepted, he/she will know within a week of the interview.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE SERVICES
• Individuals with a major mental illness Axis 1
• Those receiving mental health services during the past year and currently, as we are not a clinical program and cannot provide these services
• Those that have a desire to work and be part of the program. The program is VOLUNTARY
• Those that are at least 16 years of age at the time of intake and not older than 22 years of age. The workforce offers fewer opportunities to those who are under sixteen. Adult services are more appropriate for those over 22.
• Must be residing in the South Shore Metro-Suburban area: Braintree, Cohassett, Hingham, Hull, Milton, Norwell, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate and Weymouth.
HOW DO WE SUPPORT OUR YOUNG ADULTS
Job Coaching:
SEP offers one to one job coaching. Examples of job coaching include the young adult going out into their community with a job coach to obtain, complete and return employment applications, having their job coach accompany them on a job interview for support or the job coach visiting the workplace and assessing how the program member is performing.
Peer Support:
A weekly peer support group is offered to give program members an opportunity to discuss job-related successes and struggles and gain feedback from one
another, as well as offer them a place to meet new people and interact with their peers.
Social and Recreational Groups:
Social activities are offered to program members, usually on a bi-weekly basis.The bi-weekly social and recreational activity groups provide an opportunity
for program members to spend time with other program members, build relationships and develop their interpersonal skills while engaging in fun, safe
activities. Examples of activities include game and movie nights, field trips (George's Island, Boston, Movies, Mall, Arcade, Mini-Golf, etc...)
Life Skills Workshops:
These are monthly workshops that concentrate on independent living skills such as healthy living, budgeting money, cooking, dressing for work, stress
reduction, housing, etc....
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR YOUNG ADULT OR CLIENT REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM
• Referrals can come from schools, therapists, case managers, psychiatrists, probation officers, DCF, parents/caregivers or any other provider
• The referring source must complete and return a referral form to the program coordinator
• After the referral is received, an intake will be set up and the young adult will be enrolled in the next available orientation group
November Orientation
Just a reminder that the next SEP orientation group for new SEP members will begin on Wednesday, November 11,2009 The group is designed for members who are newly referred to the program.
The group is open to young adults, ages 16-25 who are dealing with mental health issues.
Click on the link for the new flyer for the next group as well as a new referral form. If you would like more information, please feel free to e-mail or call Adam Rogers at (617) 774-6031. If you would like to make a referral, please complete the electronic referral form that is attached and return it to Adam no later then Wednesday, November 4, 2009.