Advocate For Action

The SCCCMH established and sponsors the SCN-MHPA. The network is made up of agencies, organizations, professionals and mental health advocates in Saratoga County, NY. The members of the network meet twice a year to disucss topics of interest, develop position statements, and anything else the group decides. The network shares information via e-mail as well. To join the network, e-mail info@scccmh-saratoga.org.

The SCN-MHPA developed the following statement in 2009:

POSITION STATEMENT

February 26, 2009

Regarding The Reduction Or Elimination Of Supportive Employment
And Sheltered Workshop Services For Individuals With Severe
And Persistent Mental Illness

The NYS government must continue to provide appropriate and adequate services to individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI). In particular, supportive work programs and sheltered workshops are essential in not only maintaining quality of life for individual’s with SPMI, but also in decreasing the taxpayer’s burden when inadequate care and supervision results in overutilization of emergency services or move intensive care (e.g., police, emergency room, and inpatient care).

Although economic conditions may make community mental health services a tempting target for cutbacks, society’s commitment to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) cannot be set aside. Our government instituted the reduction of psychiatric institutionalization predicated on the requirement that community-based housing and programming would be provided instead in order to improve the quality of life and contribution of individuals with SPMI (Donohoe, 2004).

Research supports an increase rather than decrease in support services for this population. At this time, estimates suggest that 30% of homeless persons have a mental illness. Even more staggering are the estimates that suggest that 50-60% of homeless women have a mental illness. This homelessness has occurred is in spite of current levels of community support services for individuals with SPMI. (Donohoe, 2004). In Saratoga County this trend also seems to be accurate. For those individuals with SPMI in Saratoga County fortunate enough to get supported housing, they are required participation in work programs.

As we consider how best to provide day services for individuals with SPMI, it is important to remember that only 8-15% of these individuals hold full or part-time competitive employment (Auerbach & Richardson, 2005). Those individuals with SPMI who are competitively employed credited community support organizations that offer sheltered workshops and supportive employment with facilitating preparation, identification, application to, and retention of their employment. Many individuals in this study also made note of the need to have supportive services that work with them at their own rate of progression. Further, supported employment is also considered an appropriate adjunct to assertive community treatment programs. Both types of community services are evidence-based practices with demonstrated efficacy for individuals with SMPI (Dixon & Goldman, 2003).

In Saratoga County, individuals with SPMI can seek service in the community through Unlimited Potential and the NYS Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID).

Supported employment is a term with broad definition, and includes job coaching and activities that prepare individuals with SPMI for future employment, as well as sheltered employment that provides individuals with SPMI with a daily purpose and schedule. While the long-term goal of sheltered employment is competitive employment in the community, the realities of this condition mean that for many individuals with SPMI this is a permanent disability that does not allow for competitive employment or the termination of supportive employment.

Therefore, the Saratoga County Citizen’s Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) and the Saratoga County Network of Mental Health Professionals and Advocates (SCN-MHPA) support the need for research regarding the efficacy of the current approaches to community mental health services. Additionally, until such research is conducted and provides direction for improved programming, the SCCCMH and the SCN-MHPA oppose any effort to reduce or eliminate community mental health services, especially supportive employment and sheltered workshop programs, like Unlimited Potential in Saratoga Springs.

Respectfully submitted by the SCCCMH Board of Directors and our community partners.

References:

Auerbach, E.S. & Richardson, P. (2005). The long-term work experiences of persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 28(3), 267-273.

Dixon, L. B. & Goldman, H. H. (2003). Forty years of progress in community mental health: The role of evidence-based practices. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 37, 668-673.

Donohoe, M. (2004). Homelessness in the United States: History, Epidemiology, Health Issues, Women, and Public Policy. Medscape Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health, 9(2). Downloaded from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/481800_print

Organizations and individuals formally supporting this position include:

Brenda Quinn, LMSW, Director of Community Outreach, Four Winds Hospital Saratoga

Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga

Edmond Amyot, MD

Franklin Community Center, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health

Saratoga County Network of Mental Health Professionals and Advocates

Saratoga Springs National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Saratoga Hospital Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Shelters of Saratoga