Job Program for Mentally Ill Passes Extensive Review

A San Fernando Valley employment program for people with mental illnesses has received a stamp of approval from an international accreditation body.

The Valley Employment Services program, which provides rehabilitation training and assistance with job searches, was reaccredited for the next three years by the Tucson-based Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

“It was a very intensive process,” said Grace Evans, manager of the employment program.

The process involved a review of the program’s financial affairs, its health and safety record and how it manages human resources. The accreditation team spent two days at the center to observe the program.

“Their review was excellent,” said Donald E. Galvin, president and CEO of the accreditation commission, which accredits close to 18,000 employment programs across the United States and Canada.

The employment program is one of several under the Community Mental Health Center Inc., a nonprofit organization that works with the severely mentally ill, who suffer from schizophrenia, manic depression, severe depression, and severe anxiety states.

Dr. Ian Hunter, executive director of the center, considers the accreditation important because it indicates that the nonprofit agency offers services of high quality. “We are consistent with the philosophy of client empowerment,” he said.

The accreditation team spoke with clients and their families, staff and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

The center and its program are supported by government grants, private fund-raising, foundation grants and private contributions.

The employment program has placed 44 clients in jobs as of March 31. At least 40 of them have remained on the job for more than 90 days.