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October 05, 2009
CONSUMER CHOICE
Service provider Rick Johnson has witnessed the transformative nature of work and how it supports, promotes recovery
—by Matthew K. Weiland and Paul M. Kubek
Sandusky, OH—Getting people placed in meaningful work environments has long been a passion of Rick Johnson, one that can be heard in the enthusiasm of his voice. An employment specialist at The Giving Tree in Sandusky and Port Clinton, Ohio, Johnson serves people who live in Erie, Ottowa, and Sandusky counties. He has been a service provider for over 25 years and is passionate about the transformative nature of work and Supported Employment's ability to help individuals recovering from mental health and substance use disorders.
The Conversation
Johnson attended the Center for EBP's Annual Ohio Supported Employment Conference 2009, which was held in March in Columbus. He answered our open invitation to conference participants to share their lessons-learned stories and consumer recovery stories.
1.) Our Work Is Our Identity (1m 16s)
The Giving Tree provides employment and mental health recovery services to a wide variety of people, including ex-offenders, veterans, and people diagnosed with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
 | listen & learn more |
2.) Consumer-Centered Approach (51s)
Johnson begins his relationship with consumers by explaining that he works for them.
| listen & learn more |
3.) Consumer Success Story, Part 1 | Trust (1m 42s)
Johnson has helped numerous individuals find part-time and full-time jobs over the course of his career. He firmly believes in zero exclusion—that each individual has the potential for employment and recovery. In this track, Johnson begins a success story of a consumer with co-occurring disorders who had no work history.
| listen & learn more |
4.) Success Story, Part 2 | Consumer Choice (2m 16s)
This 38-year-old male consumer was a bit of a loner who frequently missed appointments and was not "med compliant". He got a job at a pizza factory and got hooked up with a job coach. In two to three weeks, he did an about-face, becoming engaged in his recovery. He began to volunteer, sharing his work-is-recovery story with other consumers.
| listen & learn more |
5.) Supported Employment and Follow-Along (2m 44s)
For Johnson, the core principles and components of evidence-based Supported Employment services enable him to provide a more holistic approach to consumer employment and recovery, even when there is not funding available to support a formal SE program. Johnson most notably utilizes SE's time-unlimited services and follow-along services, making phone calls to consumers to check-in on them.
| listen & learn more |
THE NATIONAL SCENE
Supported Employment, the evidence-based practice, was created by researchers Deborah R. Becker, MEd, CRC, and Robert E. Drake, MD, PhD, and their colleagues at the New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center at Dartmouth Medical School.
They have provided leadership for national implementation of SE via the Johnson & Johnson-Dartmouth Community Mental Health Program. The State of Ohio—and the Center for EBPs at Case—is participating in this national initiative.
| learn more |
RELATED STORIES, THIS SITE
 SPRING TRAINING
Supported Employment conference 2009 draws nearly 200 people from around the country
| get full story |
A POINT OF PRIDE
John Moneypenny draws upon a strong work ethic to advance his recovery, purpose
| get full story |
THE CHEESE WALL
Zero-exclusion is the ultimate optimism, everyone who wants to work receives Supported Employment services
| get full story |
RELATED STORIES, OTHER SITES
Supported Employment featured on CBS
 The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric aired a report featuring our own SE Consultant and Trainer Nicole Clevenger.
| get full story |
Coping with Bipolar Affective Disorder featured on NPR
The Diane Rehm Show hosts a discussion about the 2.5 million people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
| get full story |
IDDT featured on NPR
National Public Radio (NPR) features researcher Robert Drake, PhD, of Dartmouth Medical School, one of the pioneers of the Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) model.
| get full story |
ACADEMIC-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
The Center for Evidence-Based Practices at Case Western Reserve University is a partnership between the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case and the Department of Psychiatry at the Case School of Medicine. The Center for EBPs works in collaboration with and is supported by the following:
- Ohio Department of Mental Health
- Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
- Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
- Ohio Department of Health
The Ohio SAMI Coordinating Center of Excellence (CCOE) and Ohio SE CCOE are both initiatives of the Center for EBPs.
Matthew K. Weiland, MA, is senior writer, producer and new-media specialist and Paul M. Kubek, MA, is director of communications at the Center for Evidence-Based Practices at Case Western Reserve University.
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