BACS’ IPS Supported Employment Program provides job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.

BACS recently received our IPS Supported Employment Fidelity Report, which measures how closely BACS has followed the model to help our community. BACS received 113 out of 125 possible points, which the report notes is “the highest fidelity IPS program in Alameda County.” According to the report, “BACS staff, participants, and family members spoke highly of the IPS services,” saying things like “It’s an awesome program” and “The employment coordinators are really wonderful and I appreciate that.”

This work is crucial, and recently The Lead Center has published a Policy Brief on the Impact of Employment on Health and Health Care Costs. Their findings showed that on a per capita basis, expenditures for people with disabilities are over four times higher than those for their counterparts without disabilities, meaning that 27-37% of subsidized health care (such as Medicare or Medicaid) goes to help individuals with disabilities. It also reports that employment has an extremely positive impact, as employment can provide social and financial benefits that improve health, and healthy people are more likely to keep working.

Essentially, employment is a crucial step in the road to wellness and recovery. BACS Director of Programs Jovan Yglecias says “This speaks to our philosophy and value of employment as an intervention for our participants.”

At BACS, we know how important employment is for individuals living with mental health issues. To learn more, or to read the full brief, click here. To support our Employment Programs, click here.