Innovation, Mission Driven Programs for Vulnerable Population

1. Innovation, Mission Driven Programs for Vulnerable Population Susan London JVS Toronto IAJVS May 18, 2009

2. Have been providing assessment services for over 40 years – to adults, children, youth • Started assessing Toronto Social Services clients in 2006 • Since then, expanded our assessment services and referral sources • In 2007, JVS Toronto developed a program specifically for housed Streets to Homes clients

3. Federal Homelessness Partnership Initiative Fund - $269.6 million • City of Toronto - $35.58 million (April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2009) • Adopted ‘housing first’ approach • Created Streets to Homes with goal to end street homelessness

4. Funded by The City of Toronto's Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI) • Participating programs in the City of Toronto: •        * Shelter, Support and Housing Administration •                  - Employability Support Team •                  - Hostels to Homes •                  - Streets to Homes •         * Toronto Social Services •                  - Ontario Works

5. Psycho-vocational Assessment, Action Planning and Research Project • Two phases of direct service to clients: • 1. Psycho-vocational assessment • practical evaluation of clients’ strengths and barriers • identifies cognitive, academic and employment aptitude levels, social & emotional functioning • 2. Action Planning • one on one sessions to assist clients in moving towards identified goals

6. Research Component: • Gain an understanding of participants involved in the program • Gain an understanding of facilitators & barriers to the program from client & service provider perspectives • Develop recommendations for future employment initiatives

7. Streets to Homes or Hostels to Homes clients are eligible • referral by worker • stable housing situation • participation commitment • sober during program sessions

8. Presenting issues: • prolonged periods of unemployment • never held a job • uncertainty regarding employment competitiveness • interrupted work or educational history • low education level • addiction, physical, mental health, emotional and/or other long-term health problems • one-to-one support and repetition needed; test anxiety • language and literacy barriers

9. 87% male - 13% female • Average age: 40 years (range 19-60 years) • half did not complete high school • 35% had some post-secondary education • 16% completed post-secondary education • *based on 38 clients from 2007

10. 2007 – Present To date, we have worked with 88 clients.

11. employment barriers cognitive challenges social relationships poverty addictions mental health physical health

13. Four ½-day Sessions & Feedback Interview: • 2 psycho-educational 2 vocational • Includes examination of: • Cognitive functioning & information processing abilities • Academic skills • Social-emotional functioning; mental health screen • Vocational aptitudes & employment interests

14. Identifies: • Client strengths • Client barriers • May result in: • Diagnoses, e.g. LD, ADHD, MID, Asperger’s • Identification of mental health challenges • Clarification of possible vocational directions

15. One-on-one sessions • Start after feedback session • Usually 1 hour in length • Up to 6 - 8 sessions • Occur over a period of 3 months

16. Worker invited to participate when appropriate • Goals stem from assessment recommendations • Action Plan used as guide • Goals set by clients • Post program, updated Plan shared with worker

17. Challenges Encountered

18. Coordinating multiple partners to create a seamless program for clients • Engaging clients’ front-line housing workers • Getting clients in the door • Getting clients in the door again - and again, and again

19. Innovation, flexibility and cooperation have proven to be key in addressing challenges

20. ‘Steering committee’ Created a solid partnership Shared vision Joint problem solving Dedicated coordinator/contact person for each agency; ongoing communication Well-developed work flow process Confirmed supports released in advance

21. Presentations to front-line staff • Lead person within each agency • Built credibility through successes

22. Downtown location Food on site Food vouchers Worker endorsement, support & accompaniment

23. More incentives! More worker support Staff ability to successfully engage the client Non-judgmental and supportive environment Team approach Flexible – e.g. rescheduling multiple times

24. Keys to success and lessons learned when working with multi-barriered clients

25. A. Partnership and Collaboration • Facilitated seamless program for clients • Resulted in creative approaches and effective problem-solving • Range of enhanced supports for clients

26. B. Conceptualization of a spectrum of employment related activities Pre-employment Pre-pre-employment

27. C. Customized program development Key was determination of client needs & finding ways to meet those needs, to maximize client success Recognition that clients need and benefit from support in multiple ways Flexibility

28. D.Inclusion of Comprehensive Psycho-vocational Assessment & Diagnosis For many clients, this resulted in increased self-understanding & self-esteem Opened access to • services, programs and funding • accommodations on the job, in training, in school

29. Multi-barriered clients present with many challenges These challenges presented us with opportunities Rewarding for JVS Toronto • Staff love working with the clients • Internal cross-program partnerships • External partnerships

30. Susan London Manager, Career Services 416.661.3010 ext. 316 JVS Toronto www.jvstoronto.org

31. Questions??? THANK YOU!