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Rehabilitation > Employment Services

Employment Unlimited

Employment Unlimited helps persons with serious mental illnesses who have had difficulty obtaining or maintaining competitive employment. Employment Unlimited assists people in finding employment in the community for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Employment Unlimited staff members provide on- or off-site job coaching and support to ensure that once employed, a person can learn the job duties, feel comfortable in the work environment and have supportive relationships with supervisors and co-workers.

When the person and the employer feel the employment situation is stable, the Employment Unlimited staff provides ongoing support services so that work can be maintained and future career/employment goals can be explored and obtained.

Is It For Me?

If you are ready, willing and able to work, are prepared to obtain your job directly rather than follow lengthy, pre-vocational training, and meet the following criteria, Employment Unlimited may be for you:

Consumer of mental health services
18 years of age or older
Westchester County resident
Legally entitled to work in the USA
Approved for these services by New York State VESID - (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities)

We are happy to assist with the VESID application and certification processes. You may also wish to visit the VESID web site: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/.

If you have questions, we have answers!

By phone contact Mary Miller at 914-949-7035, extension 203, by fax use 914-949-5802, call our Information and Referral Service at 914-345-5900, extension 240, or send an e-mail message to help@mhawestchester.org.

What We Deliver

Employment Unlimited operates under these principles:

Rapid Job Search - Participants are expected to obtain jobs directly, rather then following lengthy pre-vocational training. We believe in a “place-train” approach whereby participants are first given assistance in obtaining jobs. Then, if job-specific training and support are required, they occur on the job or off-site.

Integration of Rehabilitation and Mental Health - Employment is viewed as an integral component of the participant’s mental health treatment. The Employment Specialist works closely with the participant to figure out how clinical services can be supportive of the goal to obtain and maintain employment.

Attention to Participant Strengths and Preferences - Participants lead the job search and make decisions regarding what type of employment they want, where they will work, when they will work and what, if any supports they will need. Employment Specialists can be consulted for assistance but the Employment Specialist does not make decisions for the participant.

Initial intensive services include:

Individual assessment
Job site and appropriate job matching
Job placement
Job orientation
Travel training
Skill training
Maintenance of competitive levels of work
Provision of reasonable accommodations
Advocacy with co-workers, employers, residence, treatment services, benefit programs

These are followed by Extended Services that include:

Continuation of ongoing supports at the job site that are needed to maintain employment
Meetings twice a month on or off the work site
Regular contact with the employer each month to identify any problems, issues or areas for further training/support

Where

Supported Employment is located at:

29 Sterling Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

Click here for How Can I Get Here?

Employment Specialists will also meet participants in the place of their choosing such as on the job, at home, at a program site or in the community.

When

Employment Unlimited is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, staff hours are flexible so staff members can meet with participants before or after work or on the weekends when necessary. This is to ensure participants receive services when and where they need them.

Languages Spoken

Services are available in English and Spanish.

Se habla Español.

Cost

There is no charge for services. The New York State Office of Mental Health, the Westchester Department of Community Mental Health and the New York State Education Department VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) provide funds so consumers of mental health services can have access to Employment Unlimited.

Staff/Service Providers

Employment Unlimited staff members are chosen for their ability to develop relationships with employers and program participants. Once these relationships are formed, the Employment Unlimited staff person must then be able to match employer to potential employee and potential employee to employer.

Employment Unlimited staff members come from a variety of backgrounds both in and out of the human services field. Employment Unlimited staff members have:

Experience in teaching or training others
An awareness of how mental health issues may impact work performance or relationships with peers and supervisors
A history of reliability, adaptability and problem solving skills
Specific training in supported employment techniques
Values and philosophy that support the inclusion of consumers of mental health in the community
Successful work experiences related to business and industrial settings in which placements will occur

All activities of Employment Unlimited operate under the supervision of the Director who holds a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Employment Unlimited is staffed with a Program Director and Employment Specialists.

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