New York Work Exchange

Our Projects

The New York Work Exchange has generated a number of project reports since its inception in 1999. All of these documents reflect the mission of the Work Exchange aimed at promoting the employment and career opportunities for the community of mental health recipients. The Work Exchange accomplishes its mission by assisting service providers through training and technical assistance, dissemination of critical and up to date information related to employment, and research and education on best practices interventions. The following reports reflect these activities and are useful in assisting the mental health community towards success in employment and ultimately in recovery and rehabilitation.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Ways to Work
The Ways to Work demonstration project began in January 2002. Five New York City community mental health agencies received grants from the Work Exchange to employ employment staff and to integrate clinical and vocational services. The main goal has been to increase employment outcomes for mental health consumers attending Continuing Day Treatment and Clinic Programs. Dr. Colleen Gillespie, Assistant Research Professor at New York University's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service has been the chief researcher on this project. [More...]

Cognitive Remediation
The Work Exchange has undertaken a research study to examine the effectiveness of combining cognitive remediation and supported employment services for mental health recipients. The study has targeted four community based employment programs in New York City since the beginning of the project in January 2003. Dr. Susan McGurk, Assistant Professor at Mt. Sinai's School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry is the principal investigator of the study. [More...]

The Work and Recovery Project
The Work and Recovery Project began in July 2002. The main goal of this technical assistance project is the incorporation of work and recovery-oriented concepts and practices into Continuing Day Treatment Program (CDTP) services in five New York City programs. This 18 month organizational change project provides site specific assessment, curriculum design and delivery, consultation to the service delivery and treatment planning process, and the establishment of a network of providers. [More...]

Vendors as Employers: Promoting Effective Connections between Community Mental Health Care Providers and Employers
The Work Exchange in collaboration with Columbia University's Workplace Center has undertaken a two year study started in 2002 involving eleven mental health agencies in New York City. The purpose of the study has been to identify strategies that encourage agency vendors to extend their employment opportunities to the agency's consumers. [More...]

Employment and Clubhouses
The employment enhancement project with the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD) was undertaken by the New York Work Exchange in 2002. With involvement of the New York City Clubhouse Coalition (NYCCC), the project resulted in the development of a best practices manual on employment, technical assistance efforts with specific New York City clubhouses, and training on developing and operating diverse employment programs in clubhouses. [More...]

OTHER PROJECTS

Cost Analysis (Measuring the True Cost of Providing Supported Employment Services in New York City)
The NYWE undertook a study to measure the true cost of providing supported employment to individuals with psychiatric disabilities. This study was spurred by a RFP released by Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), the New York State Vocational Rehabilitation agency. The two methodologies employed for this project were process mapping and staff questionnaires. The following documents assist the reader in understanding the need for this project in a rapidly changing funding environment, the process involved, and the results of the actual costs of providing supported employment services.

The Role of Employee Assistance Programs in Supporting Workers with Mental Health Conditions
The New York Work Exchange and Columbia University's Workplace Center of the School of Social Work undertook a study to look at the role of employee assistance programs (EAPs) in supporting workers with mental health conditions. This report examines ways that EAPs can collaborate with providers of the mental health community to improve employment retention. The following documents reflect the scope of the project and show practical ways to implement these ideas through three different training manuals that help to enhance the connection between EAPs and the mental health community:

The Quality of Supported Employment Implementation Scale (QSEIS)
Supported employment services designed for persons with mental health disabilities vary. The Work Exchange along with researchers from Indiana University, Purdue University examined the properties of supported employment utilizing the QSEIS (Quality of Supported Employment Implementation Scale) a 33-item scale measuring the implementation of evidence-based supported employment. The following documents are the tools and products of the study:

Statewide Educational Advisory Board (SWEAB)
A Statewide Educational Advisory Board was convened by the Work Exchange in collaboration with the State Office of Mental Health and Cornell University to develop a portfolio of employment services educational curricula that could be of use throughout New York State. Membership consisted of individuals from both public and private universities, think tanks, consultants, consumer organizations, and selected state, city, and federal agencies. One of the goals of SWEAB was to blend evidence-based practices and perspectives on recovery. The following are documents describing this project and include products of the Board's efforts:

The Role of Unions in Promoting the Employment of Individuals with Mental Health Conditions
The Work Exchange along with Columbia University's Workplace Center of the School of Social Work undertook a study to examine the role of unions as a potential conduit between the workplace and individuals seeking employment from within the mental health system. This report is a description of unions as a potential resource for consumers and providers. Training materials for union representatives, mental health providers, and consumers of mental health services are also available.

Unions Helping Workers with Mental Health Conditions: A Guide for Consumers, Providers and Union Representatives- the full report (PDF)
Training materials for union representatives (PDF)
Training materials for mental health providers (PDF)
Training materials for consumers of mental health services (PDF)
Video: 15 minutes on the value of Unions in supporting employees (contact the New York Work Exchange for more information)