Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
An evidence-based, international, supported employment
approach for people with serious mental illness.
Trainer/Curriculum Developer: Deirdre Sage, MSW
Individual Focus
IPS focuses on your strengths and preferences — you are the expert in your employment journey.
Work is Recovery
Employment can result in less use of mental health services, fewer hospitalizations, and improved control of symptoms.
Eight Practice Principles
Eight principles set IPS apart from other supported employment approaches and create a person-centered option for job seekers like you.
Fidelity
A 25-item fidelity scale assures service providers adhere to the IPS program model and helps identify opportunities to improve quality.
A Evidence-Based Employment Approach
Evidence from 24 states and 6 countries continues to point to IPS as a highly effective employment strategy for people with serious mental illness and a promising practice for expansion to other populations. (IPS Employment Center, 2018)
Meeting the Demand
65% of people with serious mental illness want to work and only 15% have access.
Higher Rates of Employment
56% rate of competitive employment compared to 23% in control groups across 27 studies
New Populations
IPS is employing people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and recipients of public assistance.
Locations
Number of mental health centers in Colorado offering IPS to job seekers: 12
Providers
Number of COEF-trained IPS employment specialists in Colorado: 50
Employment Rate
53% of Colorado IPS job seekers secure employment (IPS Employment Center)
Eight Practice Principles
- Competitive Employment
- Zero Exclusion
- Integration of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services
- Attention to Worker Preferences
- Personalized Benefits Counseling
- Rapid Job Search
- Systematic Job Development
- Time-Unlimited and Individualized Support
These eight principles inform the IPS Employment Specialist training through COEF.
Trained Employment Specialists have on-going access to the COEF Learning and Practice Community.
For more information about IPS, please email deirdre.sage@cuanschutz.edu.