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Community Work Services Introduces Innovative Employment Support Services for the Homeless

Community Work Services Introduces Innovative Employment Support Services for the Homeless

Published 10-26-06

Submitted by Community Work Services

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2006--A three-year Outcome Study conducted by Boston University and Community Work Services clearly demonstrates that with adequate supports sustained employment for the chronically homeless is a realistic and attainable goal. The results of the study indicated that those individuals who had continuing supports for successful employment such as family, friends, church, treatment providers and/or recovery programs were most likely to maintain employment. With this knowledge, CWS established Project Support an innovative program that provides a long-time support system for individuals who lack and need assistance in creating their own support system.

Partially funded by the Boston Foundation, Project Support provides a long-time support system for individuals who lack and need assistance in creating their own framework of support. This unique program provides three Tiers of support that begin with intensive case management support, move forward to peer counseling groups and concludes with building mentoring skills for successful program participants who in turn mentor new participants in the skills necessary to stay employed.

The Project Support services are focused on mental health counseling, substance abuse recovery, medication management and housing stabilization. The program has already proven to be successful by demonstrating that appropriate support for the homeless increases their chances of keeping long term employment. Of the 20 initial Project Support participants, 16 are continuing to receive support, attending peer counseling groups and have remained employed beyond previous time frames.

Project Support illustrates the success that is achievable when government, private agencies and academia partner to uncover the real needs of the homeless and then together create unique and innovative programs like those offered by Community Work Services.

Boston University (BU) Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an institution of higher education, research and clinical centers whose premier academic programs prepare dynamic health professionals and whose research and leadership in the health and rehabilitation sciences is actively shaping health care. BU Sargent College is the only private institution in the country offering five nationally ranked graduate programs in health and rehabilitation sciences. For more information and to learn about degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, language and hearing sciences, health science, athletic training, nutrition, and rehabilitation counseling, visit www.bu.edu/sargent.

Community Work Services (CWS), makes it possible for the hardest-to-serve homeless and disabled populations to achieve self-sufficiency. Established in 1877, CWS is the oldest vocational rehabilitation organization in the United States, hailed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as "a program that works," the organization provides job training and support services. For more information about CWS and to view Research Briefs resulting from this study, visit http://www.cwsbos.com

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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