Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)

The Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) program serves individuals who may benefit from a “real work” experience in a supported setting. The VRS program provides paid work experiences at various SF Department of Public Health sites in fields such as clerical/reception, and janitorial which last up to nine months. Participants are scheduled up to 20 hours per week. Participants are assigned a Vocational Case Manager, who provides job support and follows their progress in the program.

General Information

The VRS program assists participants in preparing to return to work by utilizing real work activity to aid them in the following areas:

Understanding the meaning, value and demands of work.
Learning or re-establishing skills, attitudes, personal characteristics and work behavior.
Developing appropriate work attitudes and habits by increasing interpersonal skills.
Working closely with treatment providers to identify and address psychiatric symptoms that may affect employment.

Vocational Support Services:

Early identification of psychiatric relapse signs and proper interventions.
Coordination/collaboration with paid work experience site and treatment providers.
Vocational support to address and resolve work related concerns.

There are on-going written evaluations and progress reports on employment skills and vocational goals. These include but are not limited to:

Productivity and Work Quality
Attendance and Punctuality
Dress and Grooming
Communication with others
Work Endurance

Admissions:

Admissions are competitive entry based on interview, and openings are ongoing and dependent on availability at the time. If there is an entry-list, the referral source and participant are informed of the time line for admission.

Outcome:

Graduation and referral to our Employment Services Program to seek competitive employment.
On a case-by-case system, participants will be referred to other vocational programs when appropriate.
In some cases, volunteering or a return to school may be the outcome goal.

Purpose	The goal is to provide participants with a paid work experiences in order to prepare participants for competitive employment.
Basic Information	• Participants receive paid, part-time professional work experience in an office or janitorial environment at various SF Department of Public Health sites • Participants will receive on-the-job training from their DPH site supervisor to learn to perform duties related to the designated field • Participants will be assigned a vocational counselor who will provide mental health support and to set and meet work related goals
Schedule	• Paid work experience schedules will vary but will not exceed 20 hours a week • Clerical paid work experiences are for 9 months and Janitorial paid work experiences are for 6 months
Compensation, if any	Participants are paid at San Francisco minimum wage
Admission Procedure	Admission is competitive. Applicants are encouraged to speak to their clinicians about how to maximize their chances of getting into the program. Participants must be receiving mental health services through CBHS.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)

General Information

Admissions

Outcome

General Information

Admissions:

Outcome:

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