The NNMH and BUILT Network advocates for an inclusive society. In this quest, we are anxious to share our programming with organizations that work with persons with mental health issues and/or disabilities. We strongly believe in partnerships and collaborations which lead to increased services to persons nationally. We strive to eliminate barriers for persons by offering our program to Consumer/Survivor organizations and community groups across Canada. To increase self-esteem and self-confidence in persons while reducing mental health issues in communities is a common goal of all involved in this project.

The objective of the BUILT Network program is to provide skills development opportunities, in a supportive environment, leading to employment for the participants. The purpose of the National On-Line project is to offer the program nationally in locations where otherwise the persons previously did not have access to the program. This program is provided free of charge to participants.

The program was developed specifically to provide persons with disabilities the opportunity to come together to increase workplace skills and ethics. The areas that are covered through this program involve Personal Development, Customer Service, Personal Sales, Computer Fundamentals, MS Office, and Professional Development.

Organizations wishing to become a partner are required to be members in good standing of the NNMH and would be the local support for the participant and may also assist the graduate in their quest for employment post program. Partners may offer support through computer and Internet access, liaison with community employers for involvement with the project and hiring of program graduates, employer workplace tours, and personal support for participants during the program as well as post program.

Program participants can access the program from any computer, whether it is at their home, local CAP site or at the partner’s office if available. Participants can complete the program at their own pace and will receive a Certificate upon completion.

Community Partners would provide support through:

The main benefit of this program is the positive lifestyle changes for the participants through increased self-esteem and confidence, less depression related issues and improved overall mental health.

The BUILT Network Customer Service Representative program originated in North Bay, Ontario, in May of 2002. There are now five BUILT Network sites nationally. To date 461 persons have taken the program of which 220 are working full time, 10 have started their own business and 20 have returned to school. Of those participants who have not returned to work, it is reasonable to assume that their employability skills have increased due to taking the program.

The initial need that was addressed by the creation of this program was a profound lack of collaborative partnerships between organizations, persons with disabilities, and local employers. There is a high level of sustained unemployment within the disabled community. Persons that had been out of the workforce for extended periods of time had difficulty mustering the confidence to apply for jobs. While many persons expressed a keen desire to return to work, they often faced barriers due to a lack of skills, a prolonged absence from the workforce, and less than adequate resumes and interview skills. Interviewing both the persons with disabilities as well as employers and Human Resource Managers identified and confirmed these issues.

What is often lacking is developing the relationships with the employers which provide a medium between the persons wanting to work, providing the skills needed, arranging workplace tours and creating strong employer relationships which would lead to offers of work.

We know that we can rely on the support of the local employers. They have expressed a desire to contribute to our mandate of community inclusion and opportunities. We spent many days with employers identifying skills that their employees are required to have, work ethics that they were looking for, interview issues and why they hired applicants or not. In almost every case, three main areas were always identified as being key issues; customer service skills, communications skills, and interview skills.

Everyone gains from this program. Persons who have been unemployed are now working and contributing to the community. Community employers have a skilled and capable workforce. Community businesses gain from employed persons increased purchasing power. Community Partners have a proven successful program to offer participants without the restrictive overhead costs associated with implementing and delivering the program on site. Provincial and federal governments gain from reduced social services costs and increased tax revenues.

Our mandate is to support persons who have experienced mental health issues / disabilities, or may be currently experiencing low self-esteem, depression or low self-confidence.

If you are interested in becoming a partner please click here to fill out the on-line form and in the comments section request partnership. Remember to complete the NNMH Membership form as well.