Supported employment fidelity in Flemish vocational programs

Background/Objectives: Work is essential because it not only creates financial certainty, but also generates a feeling of self-worth and reduces social isolation. People suffering from severe mental illnesses (SMI) want to work and see it as an integral part of their rehabilitation. However, unemployment rate of this specific group remains as high as 85% in the US. Classical vocational models focus on prevocational attitudes and skill training. Research suggests that Supported Employment (SE) using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model is more effective than train-and-place models. Flanders has a wide…