COYOTE TASK FORCE INC

COYOTE TASK FORCE (CTF) WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE SERVICES, PUBLIC AWARENESS, TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS RECOVERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. CTF PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE, COMMUNITY AND JOB SUPPORT, AND LIFE SKILLS TO THOSE WITH SMI, SA AND THOSE ON THE SPECTRUM. WE ARE BASED ON THE IDEAS OF THE FOUNTAIN HOUSE IN NYC. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 500 CLUBHOUSES AROUND THE WORLD THAT OFFER EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. CTF HAS TWO PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICES: OUR PLACE CLUBHOUSE AND CAFE 54.***OUR PLACE CLUBHOUSE***THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PSYCH-SOCIAL, PRE-VOCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES. WITHIN THE CLUBHOUSE, VOCATIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE JOB DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMENT, WORK ADJUSTMENT AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT.OPC HAS SEEN SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS FOR MEMBERS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS INCLUDING RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT, CALL CENTERS, RESTAURANTS, BUSINESS OFFICES, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE INDUSTRIES, AMONG OTHERS. SHOULD A MEMBER EVER NEED SUPPORT, OUR MOTTO IS 'ONCE A MEMBER, ALWAYS A MEMBER'.DURING THE PANDEMIC, CTF HAS STEPPED UP AND OFFERED TELEPHONIC PEER AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT TO MEMBERS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND COVID RESTRICTIONS. WE HAVE ALSO DELIVERED FOOD TO MEMBERS IN NEED, PROVIDED SUPPORT SCHEDULING TESTING AND VACCINES AND HAVE EDUCATED MEMBERS ON WAYS TO BE SAFE WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AS 'NORMALLY' AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR TRAINING PROGRAM(S) AND EDUCATED TRAINEES IN HOW TO WORK SAFELY DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO OFFER EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WORK AND ARE ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY. WE HAVE ADAPTED OUR HOLIDAY SCHEDULES AND PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE MEMBERS WHO NEEDED SUPPORT DURING THAT SEASON AS WELL.***CAFE 54***ONE IN FOUR ADULTS (APPROXIMATELY 43.8 MILLION AMERICANS) EXPERIENCES A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER IN A GIVEN YEAR. 80% OF INDIVIDUALS WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER WANT TO WORK. AT A TIME WHEN JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY, COYOTE TASK FORCE OFFERS INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESSES OPPORTUNITIES TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES IN A NURTURING, CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS OF COYOTE TASK FORCE ARE COMPONENTS OF OUR MISSION TO REDUCE AND ULTIMATELY ELIMINATE THE MISCONCEPTIONS SURROUNDING PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS BY SHOWING THAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS CAN AND DO LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES. CURRENTLY, CAFE 54 EXPERIENCES ABOUT 50% SUCCESS RATE FOR THEIR TRAINEES OBTAINING FULL OR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT. THIS SUPPORTS THE OPC PHILOSOPHY OF ADVOCATING FOR THE IDEA THAT INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE VALUED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY WHO SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THE RESPECT AFFORDED TO THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A ROADBLOCK TO BEING A CONTRIBUTING, SUCCESSFUL PART OF OUR SOCIETY.