Employment and Income: Providing StabilityEmployment and Income: Providing Stability

HVRP Grantees and the Continuum of CareHVRP Grantees and the Continuum of Care

Presented by Debby Wiesen, VP and Dean VTSPresented by Debby Wiesen, VP and Dean VTS

30 May 201330 May 2013

Connecting Employment to the CoC: An Integrated Service Plan

• NECHV – location, location, location

• In-house integrated services process: intake, assessment and enrollment

• Comprehensive services onsite and extensive Boston-based partnerships

• Case studies: Richard, Eric and Jayson

• Q & A

CoC is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they ‘move’ to stable housing and maximize self-sufficiency.

New England Center for Homeless Veterans 17 Court Street Boston, MA 02108

617-371-1800 www.nechv.org

New England Center for Homeless Veterans 17 Court Street Boston, MA 02108

617-371-1800 www.nechv.org

New England Center for Homeless Veterans 17 Court Street Boston, MA 02108

617-371-1800 www.nechv.org

• Four Major Service Categories• Housing – Permanent/Transitional/Emergency

• Support – meals, clothing and health clinic

• Clinical Services

• Training and Employment and Resource Center (life skills, vocational training, pre-employment, placement and employment retention)

• Scale of Operations• Annual budget – $7-8 million

• Veterans served – 1,000 annually

• Daily residents – 350 Veterans

• Meals served – 150,000 annually

• Geographic area – across the United States

NECHV – Providing Critical Services and Support to Veterans

• Case Management Intake – Concurrently with VTS Intake, all Veterans are assessed by an experienced case manager and an individualized treatment plan is developed for each Veteran.

• VTS Intake – The Registrar conducts a VTS Intake on all Veterans entering NECHV, which includes:

• Educational goals, employment goals and any potential barriers to employment or living independently.

• Based on the VTS Intake, the Veteran is referred to additional services, such as vocational training within NECHV or one of our external partners.

• If the Veteran is motivated to work, he/she is referred to the Employment Manager for a thorough Employment Assessment.

• After the Employment Manager completes the assessment the Veteran is enrolled in the HVRP program and completes the enrollment process.

NECHV / VTS: Intake and Assessment

• Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) – created with the Employment Manager after the Veteran is enrolled in the HVRP Program; addresses specific job search activities, including creating a resume and setting up an email address.

• Individual Service Plan – created with the NECHV Case Manager; identifies need for referrals to mental health counseling, housing and substance abuse services.

• Integrated Service Plan – created approximately one month after enrolling in HVRP during a meeting with the Veteran, the Case Manager, the Employment Manager, the Housing Manager and any other necessary service providers.

• The Veteran designs a personal plan to prioritize the steps, activities and goals they will follow to move toward sustainable employment.

• Each service provider discusses the Veteran’s progress toward the defined goals.

NECHV / VTS: Enrollment

Employment Program – Strives to be a ‘Resource’ and not a ‘Program’

• Focus on Veteran short-term and long-term goals• Develop detailed plan to achieve goals

Reverse Workforce Development

• Not a placement agency – meet the Veterans where they are• Focus on the Veteran – not the company• Goal is to find the right job for the Veteran, not the right Veteran for the job

When you focus on ‘the match’, the outcome is ‘the numbers’

‘Employers appreciate the quality of the candidates referred to them. This, in turn, develops stronger employer relationships. The result is gaining the respect of the Veteran whose goals and aspirations are honored.

NECHV / VTS: HVRP

• On-site life skills and vocational training, 12-week internships, pre-employment, placement and retention services.

• The Transitional Housing Program (THP) is designed for those Veterans who are ready to transition to permanent housing.

• The Post-Detox program is a recovery-focused, residential holding program, providing support, continuity of care and stabilization.

• Project Access provides clinical case management and supportive counseling to Veterans with co-occurring disorders.

• The Bridges Program specializing in housing Veterans with severe and persistent mental illness and provides wrap-around services.

• Homefront low-threshold rapid re-housing program for chronically homeless Veterans.

• Emergency Solutions Grant addresses barriers to housing.

• Frail and Elderly program.

NECHV: Onsite Comprehensive Services

• Partners in Career and Workforce Development (PCWD) is a collaboration between Partners HealthCare Human Resources and Community Benefit departments. The PCWD program is a rigorous, six-week job training and internship program.

• Information Technology- Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) IT Certification, Articulation Agreement with BHCC to offer onsite PC Hardware Certification classes.

• Healthcare for the Homeless – onsite health clinic open daily.

• Boston Legal Services – provides weekly legal services to resident Veterans.

• HomeBase – referral for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI injuries.

• Boston Shared Network – provides rental assistance.

• Federal and state agencies – VA, DoL, DVS.

NECHV / VTS - Collaborations and Community Partners

Richard – a decorated Veteran

An Iraq and Afghanistan combat Veteran and former U.S. Army Ranger who served four combat tours of duty, Richard fell on difficult times. His marriage ended and he had accumulated some debt. Despite his military success and self-assurance he found himself at NECHV.

The VTS staff went into action. We guided him through the process of enrollment into a local college, obtaining a high-level security clearance position and referral to an onsite housing advocate. Six weeks later, Richard was housed, employed and enrolled in college.

Currently, he is enrolled full-time at Boston University.

Success Stories: CoC in Action

Eric – Panera does care

Eric started volunteering for Panera Cares a few months back and quickly became an important and valued member of our volunteer team. He always took initiative, was punctual, hardworking and had an amazing attitude every time he showed up for his shift.

‘When Eric started as a volunteer, he would help open and we saw his capacity to take on more responsibilities. Eventually, we asked him to help us close the cafe in the evening. As time went on, we could see what a valuable asset Eric would be to the Panera team and we encouraged him to apply for a job with cafes here in Boston.’

Coupled with our recommendation, Eric was hired last week as a baker.

Success Stories: CoC in Action

Jayson – significant employment coaching and the copy center story

Jayson was a young Veteran in need of assistance with career goals. After an in- depth assessment, Jayson decided he wanted a job in a local copy center. He went for the interview, but was declined an offer. After much coaching and a second interview, Jayson was offered the job.

He is currently employed and looking for permanent housing.

How do you define success?

Success Stories: CoC in Action

Debby Wiesen

Debby.wiesen@nechv.org

617 371-1812