MRCI provides a network of employment services to people with a mental illness who need assistance in finding and maintaining a job. Partnering with counties in the Southern Minnesota Mental Health Initiative and the State of Minnesota Rehabilitation Services, MRCI provides direct employment assistance to individuals who have a diagnosed mental illness and are in need of help in finding or keeping a job. These services which focus on job placement and post employment support, are available in Blue Earth, Nicollet, Sibley, Brown, Watonwan, Martin, Faribault, Rice and Le Sueur Counties in Southern Minnesota.
Individuals are referred to MRCI for services by their local Rehabilitation Services office and are assigned to an MRCI Employment Support Coordinator who will work with them to find employment and coordinate post-employment support via a team of mental health professionals who are assembled to work on the individuals behalf. For the majority of referrals to the program, the desired outcome is competitive employer hired employment. Job placement is focused on the expressed job interests of the individual in their community. Post placement support is tailored to the needs of the individual and can include on site assistance or contact with their support staff away from work.
The individual worker benefits from a wide array of community supports that may include help with benefits, housing, medication issues, personal adjustment and mental health therapy/treatment. By working with professional team members that represent many different aspects of community support, the individual worker is better equipped to handle the issues of life that their illness presents. This holistic approach is a corner stone to these services and has enabled many people to find a job and become productive workers.