In this section:

Employment

The Employment Intervention Demonstration Program (EIDP) was funded to determine new ways of enhancing employment opportunities and quality of life for mental health consumers. The program consisted of multisite research study of innovative models combining vocational rehabilitation with clinical services and supports. The EIDP includes eight demonstration sites as well as a coordinating center, and explored the complex factors involved in securing and maintaining satisfying employment among mental health consumers. This web site includes downloadable research instruments, presentations, reference lists of published articles and reports, and preliminary study findings.

Housing

Housing within Reach provides Tennesseans diagnosed with mental illness or co-occurring disorders with an effective, consumer-directed, accessible housing resource system that helps them obtain quality, safe, affordable, and permanent housing. This organization also educates the public about the realities of mental illness, the stigma of mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and provides a more welcoming environment for residents of Tennessee neighborhoods.

Pathways to Housing located in New York, NY, provides immediate access to independent, permanent apartments and the support services needed to achieve independence and community reintegration to individuals who are homeless and diagnosed with severe mental illness. Pathways is the only program in this state that does not require psychiatric or substance abuse treatment before offering housing. The philosophy of housing first is founded on the belief that housing is a basic human right and that all services should be offered with respect, compassion and in the spirit of hope and recovery.

The Awakenings Project works to assist persons with mental illness in developing and enhancing their creative abilities through art in all its forms, and to raise public awareness of the creative talents and contributions of people living with mental illness. This volunteer organization sponsors and exhibits artwork, drama, literature, and music by artists who are survivors of mental illness. This project can be used as an example to implement recovery through the arts programs in other states.