Vocational Incentive Program
(VIP)
The program allows opportunities for mental health consumers to enhance their marketable skills and enable them to test out and integrate these new skills in a therapeutic, non-threatening environment.
VIP Program
This program addresses the need for mental health consumers to feel productive and worthwhile.
Many of our clients have expressed a desire to be more self sufficient. However, their illnesses have robbed them of the needed motivation and the self-assurance to set appropriate employment goals and compete in a shrinking work force.
Our program delivers the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in many work areas. Clients also receive group instruction in assertiveness, humour in the work place, conflict resolution, goal setting, leadership skills, problem solving, stress management in the workplace and lifestyle balance. They will also be able to attend outside training and have financial assistance to do so.
Who is eligible?
Our program is appropriate for residents of Brant County who are 18 years of age or older, who are graduates of the Day Program or under the care of a psychiatrist.
All successful applicants will undergo a 3 day orientation to the program and will be required to set long and short term vocational goals. There is a mandatory 3 month probation period for each participant.
Program Content
Work Settings:
-Co-facilitation of groups
-Wood Working
-Assembly Line Work
-Horticulture
-Floral Work
-Program Facilitation
-Clerical
-Marketing, Sales
-Advertising
-Program Planning
Groups:
*Conflict Resolution-Work out conflicts in the work place.
*Stress Management-Manage workplace stress.
*Lifestyle Balance-Balance work, rest and play.
*Team Building-Working as a team as well as be motivated when working on your own.
*Assertiveness-Set limits with co-workers and supervisor.
*Communication-Successful communication skills.
*Problem Solving-Solve a problem successfully and how to determine who's problem it is.
*Humour-Appropriate use of humour or discovering it.
*Exploration of the Future-What do you want down the line.
*Leadership Skills-How to lead or follow successfully.
*Self Esteem-Feel better about yourself.
Individual Counselling:
Each participant will meet with the program facilitator to review and monitor goals. The program facilitator will attend a weekly team conference to review participants progress with outher mental health professionals.
How to register
Referrals will be accepted from Mental Health Medical Staff and other Mental Health Professionals. Applications are to be filled out with or by a client. Each client will go through an intake/assessment procedure with the program coordinator.
Cost
There is no charge to attend.
For Information and Registration
Please Contact:
The Brant Mental Health Vocational Incentive Program
Mailing Address:
The Brantford General Hospital
Community Mental Health Building,
Floor: MH2,
225 St. Paul Avenue
Brantford, Ontario N3R 5Z3
Phone: 751-5530
Fax: 751-5548
Parking
Parking is available in the Parking Garage and the surface lots surrounding it. The entrance is located off of Lawrence Avenue. Follow the signs to get to E wing. $4 is required to enter the parking lot. Quarters and dollar coins are necessary for the parking gate.
Additional parking is available in Lot C on the North side of Terrace Hill St. However, you will have to walk through the Hospital to reach E Wing.
According to Statistics Canada and the Canadian Mental Health Association:
1. One out of every eight Canadians can expect to be hospitalized for a mental illness at least once during his or her lifetime,
2. One and a half million people living in Ontario have some form of mental illness; 38,000 are severely disabled by schizophrenia, affective disorders and other mental illnesses (4.1 per 1,000 population).
The Graham Report, 1988 |
