Increasing Financial Increasing Financial Self SufficiencySelf Sufficiency

Suzanne F. Clifford

NAMI National Board & Former Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana

June 2008

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008

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PanelPanel

Moderator: Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Board of Directors & Former Mental Health Director of Indiana

Robert Drake, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Hanover, NH

Elliott Steele, Executive Director, Vincent House, Pinellas Park, FL

Rand Pierce, Vincent House, Pinellas Park, FL

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Alignment with the NAMI Alignment with the NAMI Strategic Plan: Goal 3FStrategic Plan: Goal 3F

NAMI is leading a multi-faceted campaign to facilitate employment and financial independence for persons with serious mental illness.

Target: Increase focus on employment in the next Grading the States reportTarget: Convene panel of experts to advise NAMI on steps that can be taken in federal and state policies to increase access to meaningful employment options for people with serious mental illness and issue recommendations from convened panel

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Benefits of a Good Job MatchBenefits of a Good Job Match

Increases self-esteemProvides structureEnhances social integration and friendshipsEncourages the person to think about something other than mental illnessImproves fiscal stabilityIncreases society’s understanding of mental illness and support for mental health treatment

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Barriers to EmploymentBarriers to Employment

Perceived and actual cash, housing and healthcare disincentives

Lack of access to affordable healthcare

Lack of follow-along services to help people keep a job

Discrimination

Lack of outreach to businesses

Criminalization of mental illness

Gaps in employment

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Healthcare Healthcare

Healthcare work disincentives Lack of affordable healthcare creates a dependence on Medicaid and Medicaid If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counselingPeople can earn money up to a certain point without losing their Medicaid & Medicare eligibility (Get benefits counseling!)Advocate for “Medicaid Buy-In” in your state if you do not have it Improvements are needed!!!!

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:CashCash

Cash work disincentives – Social Security

Work with your service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work program

If you are receiving SSI or SSDI, you are entitled to free benefits counseling

More federal improvements are needed!

Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008

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Financial Stability Policy Issues:Financial Stability Policy Issues:Housing & Criminalization Housing & Criminalization

Housing work disincentives – HUD

Criminalization of mental illness

Arrests and convictions on a person’s record significantly limit employment and housing opportunities

Diversion programs are critical and have a high human and economical impact re: employment

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How can NAMI advocate for How can NAMI advocate for policies that promote financial policies that promote financial

stability? stability? Reinforce the importance of employment at national, state and local levels

Reduce state and federal healthcare work disincentives (Medicaid, increase access to affordable healthcare, etc.)

Reduce federal cash and housing work disincentives

Increase federal resources for benefits counseling

Ensure that your state legislature passes “Medicaid Buy-In”

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What can NAMI member do? What can NAMI member do?

Advocate about employmentWork with your local service providers to maximize the New Ticket to Work programRefer people who receive SSI or SSDI to free benefits counseling Outreach to businessesPartner with Vocational Rehabilitation to streamline their processes and increase their understanding of mental illnessFoster peer support focused on employmentIncrease the use of asset building techniquesPromote a recovery-oriented culture and system that helps people reach their financial stability goals