Long-term unemployment is a social determinant of health that has not been consistently recognized for its negative effects. According to the APA, “The body of evidence offered by social scientists, including psychologists, suggests that ignoring mental health costs understate the negative effects of long-term unemployment.”

Gainful employment contributes to positive emotional and general health for people with serious mental illness. Caminar’s Jobs Plus program has been providing evidence-based supported employment for over 30 years. The program works with each individual to find a job match and then provides job coaching support to ensure an individual's employment success. Jobs Plus offers job assessment, vocational training, skill development, support on resume writing, job application and interviewing skills.

Caminar CEO, Mark Cloutier, says ,“Our Jobs Plus program connects people who would otherwise be excluded from the workplace with meaningful, paid jobs that offer hope and a sense of accomplishment.”

In 2020, 685 young adults and adults received supportive services to build networks of support, resume their educations, or reenter the workforce. Employment can help improve stress and provide more dependable benefits for the clients.

Click here to read some of our client stories.