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Community Inclusion
Career Development Initiative
The Career Development Initiative (CDI) provides an array of training and technical expertise in the realm of system's design of effective and sustainable services that promote the community-based employment opportunities for individuals involved in the process of recovery from mental illness. Through an annual goal planning process resources are identified and provided to any of the seventeen state-operated psychiatric centers across New York State wishing to enhance and or establish exemplary employment programs and services. Facilities are provided individual consultation in organization development, strategic planning, human resource, and program design and delivery.
A comprehensive array of services is offered to any of the 17 participating state-operated psychiatric facilities:
Facility-Based Technical Assistance: Cornell staff is available to provide individualized technical assistance and organization development support through scheduled on-site visits and or scheduled telephone consultation or and unlimited access to support electronically.
Competency-Based Training: Cornell staff and adjunct national and international consultants provide a wide range of standard and customized training that support career development through supported employment; organization development; person-centered planning and; benefits planning. These programs are conducted on site and regionally and target direct line and administrative personnel of participating projects. Unless coordinated through individual sites, these programs are not open to the general public.
Regional/State-Based Technical Assistance: Quarterly upstate and downstate regional meetings are provided facilities to identify and provide technical support to address the common needs of the project constituency.
An annual statewide session is conducted to bring project leadership together a minimum of one time each year to convey state-wide information, establish shared understanding of project accomplishments and challenges and to forge a working theme for the year's CDI activities.
Internet-Based Support: project members are provided access to Cornell expertise via internet based connection on an unlimited basis. Additionally, the CDI is afforded news and information via a member-only CDI list serv.
New York State Office of Mental Health
Distinct members of the Western New York Care Coordination Project
Carol Blessing
11 Buchanan Way
Averill Park, NY 12018
Phone: 518 283 4408
Fax: 518 283 4408
Email: cjb39@cornell.edu