Sheppard Pratt has received $725,000 from the federal government to administer a three-year statewide initiative to provide job training and support services to a total of 1500 low-income, mentally ill Marylanders.
The Workforce Development Initiative for the Mentally Ill uses evidenced-based practices to give individuals with mental illness the knowledge and skills they need to increase employment and decrease symptoms of mental illness. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of individuals with severe mental illness are employed, even though data suggests that 60 to 70 percent of those individuals want to work. Research shows that when these individuals receive evidence-based supported employment services 60 percent become competitively employed.
The federal monies complete the public-privat partnership launched to fund the initiative, which will also receive $6.4 million in funding from the State of Maryland and $1.7 million from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The Weinberg grant was conditioned upon securing the final 8 percent, or $725,000, in funding from another source.
"For a number of years, I have known about the good work of Mosaic Community Services and our Sheppard Pratt Health System and what they have done for those with mental and intellectual challenges to have a way to a better life," says Senator Mikulski, who played a significant role in opening up the fed's wallet. "Now this cutting-edge workforce initiative will help people move into the workplace and find success there. The result is good for individuals receiving these services, good for employers and good for Maryland's economy."
Simply having a job has been shown to be an effective form of treatment, producing greater stability and decreasing mental illness symptoms among these individuals. This, in turn, helps reduce the need for more expensive publicly-funded mental health care, netting substantial savings for taxpayers. The workforce initiative also includes technical assistance to state and private healthcare agencies with the goal of project replication in other areas of the state and across the country.
"This project is the best example of a public-private partnership in the interest of helping individuals with disabilities become productive citizens," says Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt Health System. "Sheppard Pratt, the State of Maryland, the Weinberg Foundation and now the Federal government have joined together in this state wide effort which will impact families, businesses and individuals and promote recovery from mental illness. Sheppard Pratt, a not-for profit comprehensive behavioral health care system, is proud to lead this initiative."
Source: Senator Barbara Mikulski
Writer: Walaika Haskins