Beyond Barriers: Bridging Systems and Strengthening Employment Supports: Two-Part Free NYAII Webinar Series Begins Next Week

As an Employment First state, New York is committed to supporting all New Yorkers in attaining economic independence through rewarding and satisfying employment. This webinar series, presented by Len and Robert Statham, examines the barriers to employment for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, as well as practical strategies for addressing them. Participants will have opportunities to discuss situations they have personally experienced in their work and are encouraged to share challenges they are currently navigating.

August 14th from 2:00-3:30pm
Beyond the Behavior: Where Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Employment Supports Meet
Register Here

This interactive training examines how developmental disabilities and mental health disabilities may influence employment preparation, job development, workplace behavior, and job retention. Using a recovery-based focused, participants will learn to look beyond observable behaviors to identify possible functions, unmet needs, environmental factors, skill gaps, and workplace stressors. The training will emphasize individualized, person-centered employment practices rather than assuming that a particular approach should be used solely because of a person’s diagnosis.

August 25th from 2:00-3:30pm
Bridging Two Systems: Understanding Employment Services Across OMH and OPWDD
Register Here

Although both OMH and OPWDD share the goal of helping individuals achieve meaningful employment, each system utilizes different philosophies, funding structures, and service models. This webinar explores the similarities and differences between the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model used within OMH and the employment readiness and vocational training approaches commonly utilized within OPWDD. Participants will gain practical strategies for coordinating services when individuals receive supports from both systems.

Len Statham, M.S. | Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Len Statham is the Chief Operating Officer with the Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS).  He has worked with people with mental health and substance use issues for more than 25 years, promoting recovery focused services and service provision.  Combining his clinical and vocational background, Mr. Statham provides training and technical assistance about employment services and the capabilities of people with mental health, substance use, and trauma-related challenges to providers and people in recovery, across New York State and nationally.  

He has helped facilitate and support the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment statewide in Utah, Ohio, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Colorado.  

Additionally, Len also works with the National Development and Research Institutes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NDRI-ATTC) and The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University offering training and technical assistance to organizations across the country providing employment services to people in mental health recovery.

Len has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from SUNY Empire State College and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP).

Critically, Len is a person with lived experience in the mental health system and this experience informs and strengthens his work on recovery and employment issues.

Robert Statham, B.S. | Statewide Employment Trainer and TA Facilitator, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Robert Statham is a Statewide Employment Trainer and TA Facilitator with the Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS).  He has worked with people with mental health and substance use issues for more than 20 years, promoting recovery focused services and service provision.  

Combining his clinical and vocational background, Mr. Statham provides training and technical assistance around employment services and the capabilities of people with behavioral health issues to providers and people in recovery, across New York State and nationally. Robert also works with the National Development and Research Institutes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NDRI-ATTC) project helping organizations promote and operationalize employment-centric recovery-oriented care.

Additionally, Robert provides consulting services through the Alliance with Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and the Washington State Health Authority involving employment practices and support for Individuals with psychiatric disabilities. He provided consultant services to SAMHSA SOAR Team and has contributed to the development of the Encouraging Self Employment resource for the SOAR website. Robert also is the President of Pathlight Career Counseling Services; a consulting service based in Rochester NY and works with area college students to assist in their employment and career related goals. In addition, you may know Robert as “the boy band trainer”, as he was in a boy band for several years early in his life.