Changing Lives Through Work

With the right support, meaningful work becomes a catalyst for lasting change.

Empowering Recovery and Inclusion

At The Kennedy Collective, we believe that meaningful employment is more than a job. It is a foundation for confidence, connection, and quality of life. For
individuals living with mental health challenges, work can offer structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Our DMHAS Mental Health Employment Services program is helping turn that belief into reality for people across Connecticut.

Real Jobs, Real Recovery

Our employment services are rooted in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, an evidence-based approach that supports individuals living with mental health conditions - including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression - in securing and sustaining competitive jobs in the community. IPS operates on core principles such as zero exclusion, rapid job search, integration with treatment, and personalized support, ensuring that clients are eligible to pursue employment based on their interests, not their challenges.

Lifting Each Other Up

Alongside IPS, our Peer Support Services bring essential empathy and lived experience to every step of the employment journey. Peer mentors, like Trechena Grier, create safe, empowering spaces where individuals can share experiences, grow together, and build resilience. Trechena, who has been with The Kennedy Collective for eight years, supports others while continuing her own journey of recovery, proving that shared experience is a powerful force for connection and encouragement.

Dedicated Professionals Making a Difference

Behind every success is a team of dedicated professionals committed to opportunity and inclusion. Program Leader Joanne Van Vlack and Employment Specialists Elizabeth Miranda, Unity Wright, Zariah Taylor, and Crystal Wilkins bring passion, expertise, and person-centered care to their work, helping individuals navigate barriers and embrace meaningful work opportunities.

Through employment and peer support, The Kennedy Collective continues to demonstrate how work can transform lives — creating stability, dignity, and community for individuals on their recovery journeys.

Real Impact

Our commitment to employment as a pathway to recovery is reflected in the program’s outcomes. Through our DMHAS Mental Health Employment Services:

100% of clients reported satisfaction with the program
46% of participants secured competitive employment in integrated community settings (significantly higher than the state goal of 35%)
Individuals maintained employment for meaningful durations, demonstrating stability and growth
Participants increased earned income, strengthening financial independence
Ongoing engagement in peer and employment supports contributed to 20% growth in services offered.

These outcomes reinforce what we see every day: when individuals are given the right support, opportunity, and belief in their potential, they thrive.

At The Kennedy Collective, we measure success not only in placements, but in confidence gained, independence strengthened, and lives changed.