Over $11 million dollars Earned by People who receive DMH Services

People who have a mental illness are successful employees when provided with flexible supports.  This is the claim made by the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition (MCC) who will release the results of their new employment survey at an event that will celebrate the employment accomplishments of members of “Clubhouse” recover and rehabilitation centers that are funded by the Department of Mental Health.  The event will also recognize 35 companies that employ people who have a psychiatric disability who participate in these centers.  Over 300 people including corporate and non-profit employers, legislators, clubhouse members and staff, family members, advocates and allies of people who have mental illness will convene at the Massachusetts State House on Thursday, May 3rd from 11am – 1pm in the Great Hall for the Employment Celebration Event.  

              Employment Options, Inc. will honor Automatic Specialties Inc. (ASI) for providing employment opportunities to adults recovering from mental illness.  Employment Options and the 32 MCC Clubhouses are social and vocational rehabilitation centers that provide services, supports and information to adults with mental illness who want to regain control of their social and economic lives by returning to work.   Participants help to run the centers and receive assistance in gaining an education, employment, housing benefits while enjoying peer support from fellow members.   The MCC Employment Survey will show that 1,349 MA companies employed people who have a mental illness with Clubhouse support in FY 2006.

                          Over 40 MA legislators along with DMH Commissioner Elizabeth Childs will join the event to honor the employer recipients. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve had dozens of Clubhouse members come through ASI.  We have consistently had compliments from our visitors when they notice the cleanliness of our facility.  Let’s face it, we are a factory, and factories are not, typically, places that are complimented on cleanliness.  But Options members do such a good job at what they do, we hear those compliments more frequently than we would expect.” said Chris Moineau, Floor Supervisor, ASI  

              Representative Ruth Balser, Co-Chair of the State Legislature’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee, will give special recognition to ten Massachusetts employers who are leaders in a national effort to expand jobs for people who have a mental illness with Clubhouse support.  The local and national Project, entitled the Employment Expansion Project, is coordinated and led by the MCC and has successfully engaged 66 current Clubhouse employers in encouraging their colleagues to hire Clubhouse members.    “These leaders are spreading the word to other companies that hiring people who have a mental illness with clubhouse support is a win for the person hired and a win for the company,” reported Reva Stein, Executive Director of the MCC.  The employers awarded will include representatives from the American Red Cross, Appilistic (a soft ware development company), the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Trader Joe’s East, Inc., Newton Free Library, Newton Community Development Foundation, The TJX Companies, Inc., Chartwells’ Dining Services at Salem State College, Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA of Greater Westfield.

              Evelyn Mateo, an Employment Options Clubhouse member said, “I have been a job coach with ASI or one and a half years, which has made me an employee of Employment Options too. The staff at ASI is friendly and helps me do my job well. This position requires me to supervise as well as coach other members. I enjoy this sense of responsibility. It makes me feel valued to know that when they do a good job, it’s because of me.”

Employment Options, Inc. is a non-profit agency, serving adults with mental illness and other challenged populations in the Metro West region. Options believes in an individual's right to independent and dignified living, and provides meaningful services ranging from employment, education, housing, deaf and family services to social needs. For further information or to announce positions at your company visit our website at www.employmentoptions.org or call (508) 485-5051.

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