IPS: Benefits

A win-win for tribal nations and counties

IPS is three times more effective than other vocational approaches in helping people with mental health and substance use disorders find and keep jobs. IPS can help your tribal nation or county by:

Providing access to more funding

Many services provided using the IPS model can be billed to Medicaid. Some services can be billed to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. IPS sites may also be eligible for grant funding.

Reducing negative outcomes

Over time, IPS clients have shown a decrease in health issues because they are more likely to practice self-care and increase their preventative health care. Therefore, IPS sites have reported measurable reductions in emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalization days, arrests, and jail time.

Reducing use of assistance programs

IPS gets people working. Gainfully employed people are less likely to rely on unemployment benefits and other public assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Improving the quality of life for many populations

IPS is not just for people with mental health and substance use disorders. The IPS model can work with other populations, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and veterans.

How IPS works for tribal nations and counties

Once IPS is successfully implemented in your community, you will receive ongoing support from the IPS Wisconsin team. Continuing support helps to ensure high-quality services are delivered by every organization using the IPS. Tribal nations and counties offering services using the IPS model are required to:

• Establish a steering committee and set implementation goals.
• Meet with state trainers on an ongoing basis.
• Provide services in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Track and update goals on an ongoing basis.
• Participate in quarterly meetings, attend virtual training sessions, and an annual conference.
• Participate in ongoing fidelity reviews.

Bring IPS to your tribal nation or county

IPS is expanding across Wisconsin. The IPS Wisconsin team makes implementing the IPS model easy. They will guide counties and tribes through every step of the process.

• Get started with IPS
• Ask a question about IPS

Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative

IPS is all about working together. That's what the Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative is all about. The learning collaborative brings together people using the IPS model across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.

Get support and resources

A win-win for businesses

IPS connects businesses with skilled and dedicated employees. Employment specialists work to build relationships with businesses through in-person visits to learn about their culture, preferences, and needs. Not only do they strive to create a good match between the business and job seeker, but they also are available after a person is hired to assist with training and problem-solving to ensure the match is a success.

A win-win for mental health providers

IPS works best when mental health providers are involved. IPS can help mental health providers by:

Saving money

• A 10-year follow-up study of clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders found an average annual savings of $16,000 per client in treatment costs for steady workers, compared to clients who remained unemployed.
• Agencies that converted their day treatment programs to IPS have reduced service costs by 29%.

Delivering better outcomes

Over time, IPS clients have shown a decrease in health issues because they are more likely to practice self-care and increase their preventative health care. Therefore, IPS sites have reported measurable reductions in emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalization days, arrests, and jail time.

Providing stability for clients

People who obtain a job with IPS services become steady workers and stay in their jobs longer. When working, people with mental health and substance use disorders feel better about themselves and their job role improves their self-esteem and life satisfaction.

Improving the quality of life for many populations

IPS is not just for people with mental health and substance use disorders. The IPS model can work with other populations, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and veterans. IPS Wisconsin only focuses on supporting people with mental health and substance use disorders.

How IPS works for mental health providers

Once IPS is successfully implemented in your community, you will receive ongoing support from the IPS Wisconsin team. Continuing support helps to ensure high-quality services are delivered by every organization using the IPS. Mental health providers offering services using the IPS model are required to:

• Participate in a steering committee to set implementation goals.
• Meet with state trainers as needed for technical assistance and training.
• Attend the annual IPS Wisconsin conference.
• Develop an understanding that work has value in recovery and that is a key part of treatment planning and overall wellness.
• Partner with counselors and employment specialists from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide services.
• Participate in ongoing fidelity reviews.

Bring IPS to your community

IPS is expanding across Wisconsin. If IPS is not available in your community, you can talk to the managers of your tribal nation or county mental health agency and ask them to implement IPS. The IPS Wisconsin team makes implementing the IPS model easy. They will guide counties and tribes through every step of the process.

• Get started with IPS
• Ask a question about IPS

Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative

IPS is all about working together. That's what the Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative is all about. The learning collaborative brings together people using the IPS model across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.

Get support and resources

A win-win for vocational services providers

Vocational services providers are integral in helping people interested in employment and living with mental health and substance use disorders become a part of their community. With IPS, you get a proven model that has consistently shown to be more effective than other types of employment models. Providers across Wisconsin have already successfully implemented IPS and are seeing the benefits.

Saving money

A 10-year follow-up study of clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders found an average annual savings of $16,000 per client in treatment costs for steady workers, compared to clients who remained unemployed.

Providing stability for clients

People who obtain a job with IPS services become steady workers and stay in their jobs longer. When working, people with mental health and substance use disorders feel better about themselves and their job role improves their self-esteem and life satisfaction.

Improving the quality of life for many populations

IPS is not just for people with mental health and substance use disorders. The IPS model can work with other populations, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and veterans. IPS Wisconsin only focuses on supporting people with mental health and substance use disorders.

How IPS works for vocational services providers

Once IPS is successfully implemented in your community, you will receive ongoing support from the IPS Wisconsin team. Continuing support helps to ensure high-quality services are delivered by every organization using the IPS. Vocational services providers offering services using the IPS model are required to:

• Follow the evidence-based model of IPS supported employment to provide best practice employment services and outcomes.
• Establish a steering committee and set implementation goals with other community partners.
• Meet with state trainers for new employment specialist training and on an ongoing basis.
• Provide services in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and treatment teams connected to your county or tribal mental health agency.
• Track and update goals on an ongoing basis.
• Provide quarterly data for the International IPS Learning Community.
• Participate in quarterly meetings.
• Attend training sessions, including the annual IPS Wisconsin conference.
• Participate in ongoing fidelity reviews.

Bring IPS to your community

IPS is expanding across Wisconsin. If IPS is not available in your community, you can talk to the managers of your tribal nation or county mental health agency and ask them to implement IPS. The IPS Wisconsin team makes implementing the IPS model easy. They will guide counties and tribes through every step of the process.

• Get started with IPS
• Ask a question about IPS

Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative

IPS is all about working together. That's what the Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative is all about. The learning collaborative brings together people using the IPS model across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.

Get support and resources

A win-win for job seekers

You want to work and be productive. IPS can help. You can find and keep gainful employment through IPS, leading to a wide range of benefits.

• Quality of life: Working leads to increased income and independence.
• Attitude: Working helps improve self-esteem and build confidence.
• Relationships: Working increases community inclusion and social networks.
• Recovery: Working leads to better control of symptoms and reduced substance use.
• Health: Working reduces hospitalizations and the use of other treatment services.

How IPS works for job seekers

When you enter the IPS model, you will work closely with an employment specialist and staff from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (as needed) achieve your career goals. Through regular meetings, the employment specialist will work to understand your needs and interests, then connect you with businesses and educational opportunities to find and keep a job.

IPS focuses on:

• Helping everyone with a mental health and substance use disorder. Personal struggles and history do not prevent you from participation.
• Competitive and integrated employment. All jobs are in a community setting and pay at least minimum wage.
• Your preferences. You are given support to find a job you want.
• A rapid job search. You get in front of potential employers within 30 days.
• Time unlimited and individualized support. You decide when your supports end.
• A team approach. Your employment specialist works with your care team.

How to get started

IPS is offered through many mental health and substance use treatment programs. Talk to your care coordinator or case manager to learn if IPS is an option for you. If IPS is available to you, they can connect you to an employment specialist.

If IPS is not available in your community, you and your family can talk to the managers of your tribal nation or county mental health agency and ask them to implement IPS.