Data Note
No. 17, 2008Data set: FY2006 Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System Data set: FY2006 Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System (URS)

Persons Served in Community Mental Health Programs and Employment
By Frank A. Smith and Samita Bhattarai
State Mental Health Agencies provide a wide range of supports to consumers including rehabilitation services, vocational and pre vocational training, and supported and competitive employment supports. This Data Note explores how states vary in number of individuals served in Community Mental Health Programs, i.e., all services not provided in an inpatient setting, who are employed as well as the percentage of individuals served in Community Mental Health Programs who are employed. “Employed” is defined as competitively employed (full or part-time) at the last assessment available during the reporting year. Looking at the table below, we can see that in 2006 22% of all persons served nationally in a Community Mental Health Program were employed. The number of individuals employed ranged from 401 in Iowa to 82,571 in New Jersey. The percentage employed varied from 8% in California to 48% in Wyoming. 
The wide range in number and percentage of individuals employed is not necessarily indicative of success or failure when comparing a state to one or many states. Factors such as the percentage of persons served in Community Mental Health Programs for which employment status is known can affect the final numbers and percentages reported. These variations suggest a need for further research to help policymakers understand the factors responsible for such wide variation and to help determine successful strategies for gaining employment outcomes for persons served in Community Mental Health Programs.

Table: Total number of individuals served in a Community Mental Health Program (CMHP), individuals in CMHPs who are employed, and the percentage of individuals served who are employed (2006)   

State
	Total Number of Individuals Served in CMHPs*
(A)	Individuals Served in CMHPs Who are Employed
(B)	Percentage of Individuals Served Who are Employed
(B/A)	
AK
	1,325
	585
	44%
	
AL
	73,341
	12,110
	17%
	
AR
	39,666
	11,516
	29%
	
AZ
	83,759
	31,569
	38%
	
CA
	196,058
	15,729
	8%
	
CO
	39,753
	11,925
	30%
	
CT
	33,617
	8,167
	24%
	
DC
	--
	--
	--
	
DE
	3,962
	965
	24%
	
FL
	162,206
	28,586
	18%
	
GA
	85,681
	16,241
	19%
	
HI
	4,937
	1,154
	23%
	
IA
	1,387
	401
	29%
	
ID
	10,550
	2,494
	24%
	
IL
	117,184
	27,240
	23%
	
IN
	53,493
	12,531
	23%
	
KS
	36,399
	12,090
	33%
	
KY
	85,871
	16,479
	19%
	
LA
	38,029
	4,415
	12%
	
MA
	19,518
	2,689
	14%
	
MD
	38,171
	5,524
	14%
	
ME
	12,857
	1,624
	13%
	
MI
	124,490
	23,054
	19%
	
MN
	42,722
	13,592
	32%
	
MO
	-1
	--
	--
	
MS
	51,811
	9,160
	18%
	
MT
	-1
	--
	--
	
NC
	163,184
	37,322
	23%
	
ND
	11,644
	4,362
	37%
	
NE
	21,123
	6,900
	33%
	
NH
	11,631
	4,942
	42%
	
NJ
	257,548
	82,571
	32%
	
NM
	23,235
	5,859
	25%
	
NV
	14,735
	3,432
	23%
	
NY
	345,677
	77,116
	22%
	
OH
	94,859
	22,227
	23%
	
OK
	34,122
	6,438
	19%
	
OR
	34,556
	5,876
	17%
	
PA
	55,315
	4,416
	8%
	
RI
	17,071
	3,937
	23%
	
SC
	52,921
	9,119
	17%
	
SD
	-1
	--
	--
	
TN
	7,911
	1,518
	19%
	
TX
	134,560
	22,651
	17%
	
UT
	25,428
	6,724
	26%
	
VA
	72,733
	17,065
	23%
	
VT
	11,194
	3,701
	33%
	
WA
	65,009
	7,028
	11%
	
WI
	14,069
	3,949
	28%
	
WV
	34,321
	6,222
	18%
	
WY
	11,481
	5,457
	48%
	
US Total
	2,871,110
	618,668
	22%

*This column includes only persons for whom employment status was known at the time of data collection.

Suggested Citation
Smith, F.A.. and Bhattarai, S., 2008. Persons Served in Community Mental Health Programs and Employment. DataNote Series, Data Note XVII. Boston, MA: Institute for Community Inclusion. 

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