Supportive Employment
Serving King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane Counties
For pre-screening and referrals:
Kathleen Singleton-Apel, supportive employment supervisor
[email protected]
Outside agencies and community partners can contact the Community Integrations director, [email protected], regarding collaboration, partnership, capacity or program policies.
securing employment
Secure, stable, market-wage employment is one of the most critical aspects to helping people lead safe and healthy lives.
SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYMENT
- Need help building a resume?
- Seeking to increase job skills?
- Facing barriers to employment?
- Want help with goal setting and career planning?
- Have a mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis?
The Supportive Employment services provided through our Foundational Community Support (FCS) team are designed to assist Medicaid-eligible individuals who want to find stable work. You will be personally assessed by a staff member and given assistance in your goal planning.
Read the FCS Employment Myth Buster
Our team can assist you in securing competitive jobs, starting your own business or furthering your education to increase your work activity and earnings over time.
The FCS program uses the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model for supported employment and this can be integrated with other behavioral and social services that you may already be involved in within the community. The goal is to help you become as independent as possible in your own vocational role, while providing support and assistance as needed.
The program helps individuals struggling with behavioral health disorders discover paths of self-sufficiency and recovery, rather than disability and dependence. Most people want to work, yet many face significant barriers in finding and keeping jobs, such as but not limited to:
• A limited number of jobs in communities
• Limited work experience
• Difficulty understanding their rights
• Low self-worth and self esteem
• Discrimination against people with SUD or MH diagnosis
• Discrimination against people with criminal convictions
• Potentially limited or compromised executive functioning skills that
hinder one’s ability to perform and attend work
• Lack of supported employment programs
• Inadequate transportation
The Supportive Employment program also seeks to address behavioral health disparities among racial, ethnic, and sexual and gender minorities. We encourage the implementation of strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among all populations – see the FCS Medicaid-eligible overview here.
Do you or a loved one need immediate help?
Additional Resources
If you are in need of services that we do not provide, please contact the following organizations for additional support.
211
Connect to a wide range of services in your community, including food, housing, legal aid and more.
988
Suicide and crisis lifeline for anyone in Washington experiencing emotional crisis.
Washington Recovery Help Line
Help for substance abuse, mental health and problem gambling with 24/7 free and confidential care.