For Johnny, a Supportive Case Manager Was the First Step
Johnny
Ventura County Project to Support Reentry participant
Ventura County Project to Support Reentry participant
![A group of soldiers standing in front of an american flag.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AdobeStock_220853283-1000x696.jpeg")
Helping Veterans Reclaim Self-Worth Through Employment
Public Sector Solutions, Workforce & Economic Mobility
IMPACT
Through Veterans CARE, nearly 60% of veterans with PTSD and/or military sexual trauma found competitive jobs
360+
Veterans served by the program
Veterans Coordinated Approach to Recovery and Employment (Veterans CARE) is an outcomes-based project that supports veterans with PTSD and/or military sexual trauma with Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services, a personalized approach to finding employment that integrates mental health care and job search support for competitive work.
Of the 360 veterans included in an evaluation of the program, nearly 60% obtained at least one competitive job. In addition, their average earnings matched or exceeded those from a randomized control trial across 12 service sites. And, as veterans gained employment, they also reported improved personal relationships and an overall decrease in stress levels.
After not being out of the house for nine years, one participating veteran “reclaimed his sense of worth and dedication to himself,” said an IPS service provider involved in the program. “In the last month, he has seen an employer, gone to an interview, gained a position as a warehouse manager, traveled from Brooklyn to Menlo Park, gotten his driver’s license, and started a full-time job.”
What we have heard is that veterans appreciate the individualized approach, the integration of rehabilitation and mental health services, and the systemic yet customized approach to job development.Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary Rosalin Acosta & Assistant Secretary Mark Attia in Workforce Realigned
Although service delivery under the Veterans CARE Social Impact Bond ended in September 2021, following sustained, strong veteran employment outcomes, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provided additional funding to extend IPS service delivery across three sites in Eastern and Central Western Massachusetts from October 2021 to December 2022. The extension enabled Veterans CARE to scale its impact, extend IPS service delivery, and benefit more veterans. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is planning for the program to provide continued, ongoing services in 2023 and beyond.