IPS Success Stories of Williams and Colbert Class Members

Greenwood

"I was at Greenwood for 17 years and I had no hope going forward in my life. Lots of personal things happened to me when I got to Greenwood Care, but I overcame them. My Dad and Mom died that year, but I know they were proud of me the years I was at Greenwood Care. It was the best thing that happened to me, now I am sober, and I have not been in psych hospital in over 10 years. I have my own apartment; I pay my own bills. I have been with Trilogy for 11 years and that is how long I have had my own apartment. I am very happy, I got what I wanted for myself, and I have a lot of support from family, Trilogy, friends, girlfriend and et. I have found employment with Trilogy's IPS Supported Employment Program at Sam's Club."

Ericka

Ericka first began working with her local CIL in May of 2022 after being referred from AgeOptions. Ericka has been living in All American Village Nursing and Rehabilitation since 2019 after struggling with her health and losing her job. Despite being diagnosed with MS, participant has been denied Social Security twice already. This prevented her from moving out of the nursing home quickly unless she found another source of income.

Ericka had a long history of successful employment before the nursing home and wanted to find another both to move out and to work towards her other life goals. The local CIL assisted Ericka in drafting a resume, applying for positions, and preparing for interviews. Her employment counselors advocated with employers on Ericka's behalf and worked through her anxiety about returning to the work force.

Ericka was also lucky to have the full support of her nursing facility in allowing her out into the community to work. After almost a year of looking, Ericka has been able to find work at a Jewel-Osco right down the street from her nursing home. She's working in the front end to bag groceries and operate the cash register. AgeOptions is already working to help her find housing in the community and her case is being opened with IDHS-DRS. Ericka is so incredibly happy to be out working again. She can't wait to begin looking for apartments and making progress in her life again.