Recovery is Work. Work is Recovery.
(PRWEB) February 08, 2019 -- Some living with a mental illness will face numerous challenges on the road to recovery. For many, the idea of getting and holding a job can be intimidating and stressful. For more than three decades, AltaPointe’s Supported Employment program has been working with local businesses and consumers in Mobile and Baldwin counties to match skills with job opportunities and help build careers. Supported Employment Specialists have helped countless individuals on their journey to recovery by connecting individuals with employment suitable for their interests and skills.
"We believe work is an integral part of recovery, and a means for many of our patients to maintain wellness,” Tuerk Schlesinger, AltaPointe CEO, said. “Through our supported employment services, we have been able to help countless individuals achieve competitive employment, therefore, improving their quality of life.”
The Supported Employment team empowers job seekers who are ready to find meaningful work by understanding their needs and preferences. The services are free of charge to businesses and job seekers. “The entire community benefits when everyone is supported to realize their potential and achieve fulfilling vocational goals,” Pam Maumenee, assistant director adult services, said. “Our support structure is designed to help potential employees find and keep community-integrated, competitive employment opportunities, both part- and full-time, paying minimum wage or higher.”
George Catranis, the owner of Catranis Enterprises in Mobile, is an AltaPointe Supported Employment partner. He says the program has proven to be beneficial for everyone involved. “I have been working with the Supported Employment program for 20 years and have always been impressed with their service and the people I’ve employed,” Catranis said.
John, one of the individuals Catranis hired through the program, says he appreciates the opportunity and knows the difference it has made in his life. “Having a job gives me a schedule: I get up every morning about six o’clock; I get breakfast; I walk to the bus stop, get here a little before 9 a.m.,” John said. “Lying around the house wasn’t doing me much good. I needed a schedule, so I could eat right and sleep right, take my medicine; I am not having any more problems. And, financially, I can get the kind of groceries I want.”
Since its inception, AltaPointe’s Supported Employment program has helped individuals find job opportunities at public libraries, city offices, and locally owned businesses to name a few.
April Douglas, Director of Public Relations, AltaPointe Health, +1 (251) 544-4639, [email protected]
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