Project Grant H79SM088363

GANG ALTERNATIVE, INC.'S PROJECT ENGAGE [EMBRACING NAVIGATIONAL GUIDANCE TO PROMOTE AUTONOMY IN EMPLOYMENT] - GANG ALTERNATIVE, INC., A DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES- LICENSED AND INTERNATIONAL CARF ACCREDITED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WILL IMPLEMENT PROJECT ENGAGE [EMBRACING NAVIGATIONAL GUIDANCE TO PROMOTE AUTONOMY IN EMPLOYMENT]. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND LINGUISTICALLY-APPROPRIATE SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOCUSED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) OR CO-OCCURRING MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (COD) IN SOUTH FLORIDA'S TRI-COUNTY AREA (MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES). THE POPULATION OF FOCUS HAS AMONGST THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE OR THOSE WHO SPEAK LITTLE OR NO ENGLISH. PROJECT ENGAGE WILL USE EVIDENCE-BASED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT MODEL, ENHANCED BY MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING EVIDENCE-BASED TECHNIQUE. GOAL 1: EMPOWER ADULTS IN FOCUS POPULATION TO OBTAIN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. OBJECTIVE 1.1: 100% OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM WILL BE ENGAGED BY THEIR EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST (ES) WITHIN 1 WEEK OF RECEIVING REFERRALS. OBJECTIVE 1.2: 80% OF INDIVIDUALS WILL EXPLORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH ES WITHIN 1 MONTH OF PROGRAM ENROLLMENT. OBJECTIVE 1.3: 65% OF ENROLLEES WILL SECURE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT IN FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE. OBJECTIVE 1.4 : 60% OF ENROLLEES WILL SECURE JOBS WITH WAGES AT LEAST 25% ABOVE FLORIDA'S MINIMUM WAGE. GOAL 2: EMPOWER ADULTS IN FOCUS POPULATION RETAIN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. OBJECTIVE 2.1: MONTHLY, ES WILL MAKE AT LEAST 4 CONTACTS WITH ENROLLEES. OBJECTIVE 2.2: 70% OF ENROLLEES PLACED IN JOBS WILL RETAIN EMPLOYMENT AT 3-MONTH FOLLOW-UP. OBJECTIVE 2.3: ESTABLISH A CLINICAL TREATMENT TEAM (INCLUSIVE OF ESS) WITHIN 4 MONTHS POST-AWARD. OBJECTIVE 2.4: 100% OF ENROLLEES WHO EXPRESS INTEREST, WILL BE ENGAGED BY A BENEFIT SPECIALIST TO CREATE PERSONALIZED BENEFITS PLAN. GOAL 3: ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN ADVISORY GROUPS. OBJECTIVE 3.1: ESTABLISH A SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY GROUP WILL MEET MONTHLY IN YEAR 1, BI-MONTHLY IN YEAR 2 AND QUARTERLY FROM YEARS 3-5. OBJECTIVE 3.2: ENGAGE GA'S EXISTING EMPLOYER AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS THE "BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL" TO MEET QUARTERLY TO ENGAGE AND ELICIT FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL EMPLOYERS. IN YEAR 45 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE SERVED AND 75 FOR YEARS 2-5 FOR A TOTAL OF 345 OVER 5 YEAR PERIOD.