Community Matters: Social Capital the Key to finding a Job

Community Matters: Social Capital the Key to finding a Job: Joe experienced a brain injury in a car wreck. When he finally made it home after numerous rehab stays, he had a cognitive therapist and ind...

Social Capital the Key to finding a Job

Joe experienced a brain injury in a car wreck. When he finally made it home after numerous rehab stays, he had a cognitive therapist and independent living skills specialist he met with on a regular basis. When he wanted to update his goals and talk about his progress, they would meet at the local donut shop. These meetings went on monthly, and sometimes he would meet with staff there individually as well. After 3 months, Joe said he was ready for a job. He approached the manager at the donut shop who immediately said, “You know, I have seen you in here a lot and a few times I thought about offering you a job.” Joe is now working 20-30 hours a week and no longer has staff.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2013 the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 82.4%. That means only 17.6% of people with disabilities have jobs. The human service industry spends billions of dollars each year to help people get back to work. So how are we doing?

Thankfully, many people in the human service field have discovered the power and potency of social capital. Social Capital is a construct developed to look at the relationships between people in communities. Originally measured without asking about disability, the research found that those people with more social capital (friends and connections) were happier, healthier and lived longer. Social Capital is what got Joe his job, not a human service professional telling the manager about all of Joe’s deficits and problems. Joe was familiar to the manager as a guy who frequents the donut shop, not someone who was brought in there to find a job.

The best place to start when talking to someone about finding a job is to explore their already familiar relationships and things they like to do. Mary likes to make bracelets and goes to the craft store frequently? How about a job at the craft store? Joe likes to play the guitar and hang out in coffee shops? How about working at the coffee shop? If you start with a person’s passions and places they frequent you will make your job as coach and support a lot easier. You will also find that people are successful because they are doing something they are passionate about and had ownership in discovering.

Whatever it takes

Yesterday, which was Sunday, one of my staff spent the day at the jail. A woman we work with was arrested for a minor infraction, which soon became a really big deal because she was off her medication and hit a police officer. She has been in jail for 4 weeks. She is struggling to contact her court appointed attorney, isn't on any of her meds and is worried sick about her cat. When the staff person held her business card up against the window, the woman started to cry. When she held up a note and said her cat was okay, she started visibly sobbing and shaking with relief. We know she is in dire straits because she has met the staff person a few times before and always knew her name but didn't recognize her. It is a bad situation. We are grateful to be able to do what we can to help.

If you are in human services and have a passion for this work, this is who you are and what you do. We can't bill anyone for that time. We don't need to. The doors are open and our money comes from the services we can bill to provide. It is part of what we signed up to do when we said we would do "whatever it takes" to help people live in their own home. 

In our new world of managed care, that is called a value added service. When we work with people there are a lot of value added services we provide. Not everyone likes all of them. We are noticing that some of the case managers with the insurance companies don't always want us involved. Perhaps they don't understand how this benefits people. Perhaps they don't want people watching. Or perhaps they just don't see the difference between what we do and what they are supposed to be doing. I also know what we do can be seen as a message that the insurance case manager isn't doing their job. That couldn't be further from the truth. We fully understand the constraints of having a clear line between what can and cannot be done. We are trying to fill the gaps. We are slowly limping toward a partnership that will work for everyone. I spend a lot of time thinking about those relationships and, in the end, I believe our intent will be recognized. It is the most amazing partnership when it works well. 

People often ask me how managed care is working for us. When I say it is going well, they look at me suspiciously. Is there something I am holding back? If I have complaints about managed care, they are the same complaints any healthcare provider would have about working with insurance companies. The paperwork, changing policies and trying to figure out how each insurance company is interpreting the guidelines of a program we have worked with for 21 years, takes up much too much of my time. We are mostly at their mercy. I look forward to the day, and I know it will come, that I won't have to spend days sending endless emails asking about very small details that affect payment and services. And wait for replies. 

So what's the upside? We get to go to the jail and the courthouse and the homeless shelter and the nursing home to get people out, we get to love what we do. We get to help people find a job at Dunkin' Donuts, get a car and get off Medicaid. We get to see someone communicate for the first time with his wife via his new Tobii that we fought hard for to be purchased. We get to try and fail, and try again. We get to have amazing relationships with our coworkers and clients, creating community. And that is why we signed up for this work. 

Do you want to live at home?

There’s no place like home – especially for individuals who have experienced extended stays in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. We understand your desire to return home and we’ll work with you to make it happen.

Minds Matter LLC believes everyone can create a meaningful life in their community and we have been helping people do so for more than twenty years. We can help you reinvent your surroundings so it’s possible to live, work and play comfortably and capably in your community. We begin by learning about your needs and challenges along with your goals and dreams. Then, we assess your environment and identify obstacles that may stand in the way of success. A few minor changes – added equipment, structural changes and assistive technology – can make a big difference as you pursue your goals.

Independent living doesn’t mean living in isolation or doing everything on your own. It means   having opportunities to make lifestyle choices – the same kinds of opportunities that other members of your community enjoy.

Sometimes it’s necessary to learn new approaches or strategies for accomplishing tasks. Our team will work with you to identify barriers and create solutions that work.

Here are some questions to begin the process:

• What daily routines and tasks are important to me?
• Is my home safe and comfortable?
• How can I connect with friends and neighbors?

With the aid of specialized devices and equipment, it’s possible to perform a wide range of tasks. Individuals who face challenges with mobility, communication or management of household responsibilities can increase their independence with assistive technology.

What do you want to accomplish? Our therapists will work with you to make it happen.

• If there’s an activity, a hobby or an employment opportunity that you wish to pursue, we can help you overcome the obstacles you encounter.
• We listen to your goals, assess your current abilities and then recommend equipment or technology that will take you where you want to go.
• With training, practice and the right equipment, it’s possible to rise above perceived limitations and take charge of your life.

Kansas has a great program called Money Follows the Person. You can receive funds to move from a skilled nursing facility to your own home. You can also have assessments  and modifications to make your new place accessible. Give us a call today so we can assist you in your journey home. 

You can reach us at (866) 429-6757