LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

program through the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority‟s community mental health clinic.
The program continues with great success as the JPHSA staff collaborates with LRS, DOL and the
Career Solution Centers, as well as actively works with their clinician pushing employment as a
path to recovery.
Joint OBH-LRS efforts are aimed at offering consumers intensive individualized supports in order
to assist them in seeking, finding, obtaining, and keeping employment in community based
competitive jobs and/ or self-employment. A joint LRS-OBH agreement spells out each party‟s
areas of responsibility and supports regular collaboration between the agencies. OBH has
conducted Employment Needs Assessments with collaborative participation by LRS in each Area,
and engages in routine joint regional meetings to: assess each Area‟s current employment
initiatives; determine needs for enhancement/creation of new employment programs/opportunities
for consumers; share information on current and planned OBH employment projects;
develop/enhance cooperation with LRS and private employment providers; develop a database of
employment related resources for each Region/Area.
OBH continues to work on the implementation of recommendations outlined by several
employment workgroups through policy/program development and collaboration with community
partners. The workgroups include the Louisiana Commission on the Employment of Mental Health
Consumers; and although the Commission was sunsetted in 2007, the recommendations continue to
be relevant.
Act 378 funds for adults are limited to those who have been hospitalized for at least 18 months and
are ready for discharge. These funds can be used in any manner to assist the individual in
remaining in the community. Should they need any type of job training or assistance in obtaining a
job, or a job coach, these funds can cover those costs.
The overall goal of OBH employment initiatives is to create a system within the Office of
Behavioral Health that will encourage and facilitate consumers of mental health services to become
employed, thereby achieving greater self-determination and a higher quality of life, while helping
consumers transition from being dependent on taxpayer supported programs; to being independent,
taxpaying citizens contributing to the economic growth of our state and society. The national
economy has made this goal an extremely challenging one at best. Nationwide, a suffering
economy can have a spiraling effect as workers are laid off and the need for public assistance
increases. However, when resources are not available, the solution-focused alternative is to assist
clients in obtaining and maintaining employment through help with resume-writing, job searching,
and interviewing skills.
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 106
SECTION III: ADULT PLAN – CRITERION 1
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES -- SYSTEM OF CARE & AVAILABLE SERVICES