Increasing Increasing Financial Self Financial Self Sufficiency Sufficiency Suzanne F. Clifford NAMI National Board & Former Director of Mental Health and Addiction for Indiana June 2008
Jan 04, 2016
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
Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008
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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
Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008
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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!!!!
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: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
Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008
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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”
Suzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National CoSuzanne F. Clifford, NAMI National Conference, June 2008nference, June 2008
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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