Vocational Services Program
The Vocational Services Program (VSP) at Skyland Trail supports adults with mental illness who want to pursue competitive employment, volunteer positions, and internships or continue their education. We use an innovative and research-supported approach to vocational rehabilitation that is designed to empower and assist each client in reaching their individual goals.
Nearly every client who comes to Skyland Trail for treatment expresses that a key goal is finding a job or returning to school and meaningful reintegration into the community. The purpose of the VSP is to provide the foundation and basic tools for clients who are seeking competitive employment, volunteer opportunities and/or furthering their education to help them develop a sense of purpose and self-worth. Currently, nearly 86 percent of clients who are actively recovering and are no longer in an acute phase of mental illness are participating in the program, taking advantage of services which include career testing, computer skills training and educational and career research.
All clients enrolled in Skyland Trail day or residential programs have access to the VSP. Additionally, these services are offered as a stand-alone program for adults with mental illness in the community who want support and guidance as they return to school or look for a job.
Basic Vocational Services
An overview of what is offered
The VSP at Skyland Trail is built to support a client from start to finish-with the objective of helping a client successfully accomplish his or her goals. Trained staff members provide comprehensive assessments of the clients' education, work history and vocational and educational interests. This may include testing for employment interests and aptitude assessments for job requirements.
A key component of the VSP is Supported Employment, which is the term used to describe the system of support for people with disabilities in regards to ongoing employment. Supported employment at Skyland Trail makes it possible for individuals with mental illness to become active, wage earning members of the workforce. The program provides assistance such as job coaching, job development, job retention, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training, and individually tailored supervision. This is the most extensively studied vocational rehabilitation program model and research indicates that Supported Employment achieves greater success for clients to obtain competitive employment than other vocational programs (58 percent obtained competitive employment through Supported Employment, compared with 21 percent obtaining competitive employment through other programs). Clients participating in Supported Employment programs are more successful in obtaining competitive work, they are able to work more hours and earn more income than clients who participated in other programs.
At Skyland Trail, Group-based Training Sessions focus on building skills and learning the expectations of employers and volunteer supervisors. These groups are interactive and participants are encouraged to share their experiences with other group members. There are opportunities for mock interviews to practice interviewing skills followed by feedback by all group members.
Individual Sessions are offered with the Employment Specialist to help clients develop a portfolio, including resume preparation, pre and post interview letter development, on-line job searches, on-line application prompting, setting up professional voice mail and e-mail addresses, "dress for success" tips, as well as problem solving in all phases of seeking and obtaining employment.
The Work Adjustment service offered at Skyland Trail helps clients practice skills in a work environment by providing a supported employment setting on campus. This gives clients the opportunity to sample different types of jobs and work environments while building their confidence in the work place.
By addressing the barriers to competitive employment and education, with help in accessing accommodations and transportation, and by providing pre-vocational training and activities, the VSP provides effective support for adults with mental illness who are looking to return to work, seek new opportunities for competitive employment, or volunteer their skills in the community. Individual attention and support throughout the process helps our clients achieve the goals they set for themselves.
Vocational Services Menu
Services and programs offered at Skyland Trail
Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation: This is an assessment of the client's employment background and goals for future career interests. The assessment is used to evaluate a client's current academic functioning level, pairing this with the requirements for entry level into schools and the professional requirements for a client's desired occupation.
Career Interest Inventory: This is a one-time service to evaluate a client's particular strengths and interests. Test results are organized in six different themes that describe interests, preferences and styles of various occupations, indicating the likely compatibility for successful career decisions.
Developing a Portfolio: Clients in this group will work to develop a resume and letters to prospective employers for future use. Clients will practice interviewing skills, how to ask and answer questions during an interview, negotiation tactics and how to research a company and learn how the prospective position may develop in the future.
Work Adjustment: Through the Work Adjustment program, the client can be in a volunteer or paid position on campus. Here, the client's employment skills and work habits are evaluated by the staff and the client before the client considers a community work or volunteer position.
Mobility Services: The services help clients learn to use public transportation and get comfortable commuting to and from a job.
Psychological Assessment: Psychological testing is available for clients to document learning disabilities. This could help clients in attaining educational accommodations that, according to the guidelines for the American Disabilities Act, will provide student resources such as note takers and extra time to finish tests and projects. Testing can also help a client and their family understand which goals are realistic giving a client's capacity for skill development.
Supported Employment: The goal of the Supported Employment Program is to ensure the success of a client's job position, as well as positive working partnerships with community employers. A client may receive on-the-job coaching sessions and the Employment Specialist may to go to the job site to talk with the employer to make accommodations for job performance improvement.
Vocational Groups: There are five VSP groups offered during the week, as well as training sessions and seminars, all aimed at enriching the client's interest and knowledge in the employment world. These can be attended separately according to client's interest and needs or as a weekly unit. Vocational groups cover subjects such as resume writing, preparing for an interview, how to focus on the job search, paid and volunteer positions, and returning to college. Clients receive direct and specialized guidance as they prepare to apply, interview, and begin new positions, supporting the transition to a new schedule and addressing issues such as transportation, entering a new environment, and work relationships.
Vocational Services Program Groups Offered:
- Personal Financial Management: This group offers information regarding budgeting, investments, credit, types of savings, what is necessary for independent living and setting long and short term goals.
- Targeting Career Success: This group explores what makes the difference between a job and a career, and what makes it a successful choice for the client. It also encourages career exploration and how to identify the requirements for specific occupations
- Community Involvement: This group explores the kinds of volunteer organizations that exist in the community and provides a list of web sites that identify volunteer jobs as well as the benefits of "work sampling," or volunteering to determine if the position is a good fit.
- Empowerment at Work: This group identifies employee rights, employer rights, and how to be assertive and negotiate for increased satisfaction in a work position. This group reviews social security disability, discussing what it is, who qualifies for it, how to apply, and what to do if you are not approved for benefits.
- Lifelong Learning: Clients will explore the importance of continuing education both in and out of the classroom. They will talk about the concepts of "use it or lose it," "old dogs can't learn new tricks," and the value of using leisure time to expand knowledge.
Volunteer Positions
This service is offered on the Skyland Trail campus and in the community. The purpose of volunteering is two-fold-it gives the client a chance to try working with a more informal approach to work, but still providing support and supervision needed. Clients are expected to perform duties as if it were a "real job" but with less pressure.
Community Partnerships
We work with many community partners to obtain paid or volunteer work for Skyland Trail clients. Part of the process of creating community connections has been teaching the client the importance of networking and partnerships. Vocational staff members work with clients to identify desired work or volunteer locations and then assist the client to create a connection.
Some of our community connections currently include:
| Atlanta Pet Rescue | Manpower, Inc. |
| Cathedral of Saint Philip Thrift House | Publix |
| Community Friendship | Salvation Army: Atlanta Temple Corps |
| Einstein Bagels | The Atlanta Community Food Bank |
| Farmer D Organics | The Atlanta Zoo |
| Humane Society | Whole Foods |
