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| Innovative Reintegration Web Site Brings Employers and People with Mental Illness Together The
Center For Reintegration, Inc. July 12, Washington, DC -- A new online resource, www.reintegration.com, which can open the door to employment opportunities for individuals living with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was announced today at the annual meeting of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). As the job market is growing tighter for everyone, finding competitive employment is particularly challenging for those who are recovering from serious and persistent mental illness. "Finding and keeping a job is an important challenge of any person with mental illness. Work identifies many of us as persons and as members of our community. After all, at any social gathering, 'what do you do?' is the second question asked after 'what's your name?' For the most part, the notion of meaningful employment for persons with serious and persistent mental illness is a novel concept," said Ralph Aquila, director of the Center for Reintegration, sponsor of the new web site, and director of residential community service at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Reintegration.com is designed to bring consumers of mental health services and employers together to better understand the opportunities available to persons with mental illness. The site provides a comprehensive range of tools and services, including everything from basic resources about treatment and recovery and understanding mental illness to practical tools for finding employment, financial resources and helpful tips on locating appropriate housing. There are also lists of local support organizations and clubhouses, reintegration scholarship and award opportunities and a collection of success stories. "Gaining competitive, challenging employment is a goal and is vital to the recovery of any person affected by serious mental illness. Reintegration.com meets a previously unmet need for these individuals by providing the tools and resources they need to take the first step towards competitive employment, and ultimately, full reintegration into society," said Jackie Shannon, president of NAMI. How It Works The employment section of reintegration.com answers basic questions about searching for a job, such as how to create a resume and apply for a job, obtain references, use transportation and interact with co-workers. When site users are ready to apply for a job, they can find practical instructions on how to look for opportunities in their community. Site users then simply contact their local mental health community center or clubhouse to begin the application procedure. Another important area of reintegration.com focuses on housing. Finding adequate housing can be as difficult as finding a job for individuals with mental illness. The housing feature helps people identify their needs, decide where they would like to live and find out where to go to search for appropriate housing. "The newfound understanding that the American public has of people with mental illness has extended to employers, who now view these individuals as valuable members of the work community. Even when an individual overcomes a mental illness, they still often ask the question, where will I find work now that I've recovered? By bringing employers and workers together, reintegration.com provides the answers that matter to individuals living with mental illness," said Dr. Aquila. The site will provide a central location where local mental health community centers and employers can build alliances that will allow employers to seek valuable workers while helping individuals with mental illness achieve their goal of employment, noted Dr. Aquila. "Thanks to new treatments, persons with mental illness are gaining new abilities and with reintegration.com our goal is to extend those skills to the work world." The Center for Reintegration Reintegration.com is the home of the Center for Reintegration, which is dedicated to assisting those with schizophrenia and related disorders in their efforts to return to a meaningful life that includes family and friends, independent living and competitive employment. Of these goals, the center is primarily dedicated to helping individuals living with mental illness secure meaningful employment. Through their website, www.reintegration.com, the Center promotes reintegration principles to patients, the medical community and corporations. Under the guidance of a professional advisory board, reintegration.com provides resources and information, encourages corporations to hire people with mental illness and strives to help individuals with mental illness reintegrate into society. The international center for clubhouse development is at www.iccd.org. # # # A local NAMI member visited the original "club-house", Fountain House , in New York City this summer and came back totally impressed with all that they do. They have a very busy schedule of weekly activities , classes job training, you name it they have it. they are staffed by both consumers and non-consumers. They have a web site... www.fountainhouse.org where you can find out more. Their phone is 212-582-0343. Their FAX is 212-397-1649. There will also be a the Eleventh International Clubhouse Seminar in Chattanooga Tennessee in October from the 13-18th. It seems to me Fountain House could teach us all something without our having to "re-invent the wheel" so to speak. |
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