Adult Outpatient Programs provide the least restrictive level of care where adults may receive clinical interventions aimed at decreasing existing signs and symptoms of their behavioral health concerns. Outpatient treatment focuses on recovery, problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Treatment varies widely and depends upon the patient’s presenting symptoms.   Individual Placement & Support (IPS) is an evidence-based practice of supported employment that helps people with serious mental illness work at regular jobs of their choosing. The IPS team’s Benefits Specialist provides personalized, understandable, and accurate information about Social Security, Medicaid, and other government entitlements, and helps patients understand how working will affect these and other benefits, such as housing assistance and food stamps. IPS program participants also learn about Social Security work incentives, which are ways to earn money while continuing to receive benefits.

The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Certified Peer Specialist serves as an ambassador for the evidence-based practice of IPS Supported Employment and provides employment support to IPS program participants. The IPS Certified Peer Specialist offers encouragement and motivation by drawing from their own lived experiences of mental illness and success in employment. This is an individual involved in their own recovery experience who is able to assist others in that process by providing recovery strategies, sharing like experiences, instilling hope, demonstrating empathy, offering community resources and serving as a role model. The position is responsible for delivering elements of IPS Supported Employment to interested adult outpatient consumers working or contemplating work rather than to a specific IPS caseload assignment.