The CMHA National Office is proud to announce that the Opportunities Fund of HRSDC has granted a continuation of funding in 2009-10 for Routes to Work, a highly successful employment project for persons with psychiatric disabilities.

Routes to Work, originally funded in 1999 as “Routes to Real Work”, has employment sites in Williams Lake, BC, Lethbridge, AB, Medicine Hat, AB, Saskatoon, SK, Kingston, ON, Fredericton, NB, and Truro, NS. 

Routes to Work Objectives for 2009-10

By March 2010:

• Seven sites across Canada will have worked with 350 people with psychiatric disabilities to enhance their life and employability skills and help them prepare for, obtain, and keep work;
• Three hundred and ninety-seven people with psychiatric disabilities will have participated in the Routes program, 33 will return to school, 350 people will enhance their employability, and 210 people will find employability;
• Each of the 7 sites will have taken steps toward long-term sustainability by 1) raising awareness with at least one new business leader and one new community group, 2) building at least one new connection with potential supporters in the community, and 3) exploring at least two new local funding options per site, and
• The CMHA National Office will have supported the federal government’s priorities of full participation and citizenship of persons with disabilities by delivering effective employment-related services and programs in 7 sites, and enhancing community understanding of psychiatric disabilities. 

We look forward to continue providing meaningful employment opportunities for people who struggle with psychiatric disabilities across Canada.

For further information on Routes to Work please contact:

                        Julie Flatt, Project Manager, Routes to Work
                        Tel:  905-713-1327 or jflatt@cmha.ca