3t Systems Supports New Training Program with MHCD

The mental health center of denver launches new employment training program
In 2009, MHCD helped 88 Coloradoans recovering from mental illness return to the workforce

The Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) 2Succeed in Employment division has launched a new mock-interview training program to give recovering mental health participants the practice and confidence necessary to rejoin the workforce. The program gives participants opportunities to step through a ‘real-world’ mock-interview to develop their skills, boost their confidence and improve their odds for employment. 3t Systems, a Denver-based IT consulting firm, is the first corporate volunteer to enroll in MHCD’s C.H.A.M.P.S. (Caring Hands and Minds Providing Support) volunteer network and commit to hosting mock interviews with senior management at their office.

“Many of our participants have been unemployed for most of their recovery,” says Roy Starks, director of Reaching Recovery and Rehabilitation Services at MHCD. “Securing a steady job or returning to a career is an important step in the recovery process.”

The new mock-interview training program aims to improve a participant’s interview skills and help them become more comfortable with the process to minimize anxiety and improve their odds for employment. “Interviewing often takes a person out of their comfort zone,” says Ciaran Dwyer, CEO of 3t Systems. “Our goal is to provide program participants with an opportunity to practice the interview process from beginning to end with our volunteers.”

Those participating in the program receive the full interview experience. On the day of the mock-interview, participants come to the corporate offices of 3t Systems, check in with reception, and interview directly with the managers of the company. Each mock-interview is scheduled for one hour, the typical time allocated for an interview, and includes a debrief session and a take away feedback form for the participant.

At MHCD, participants are involved in shaping their own recovery and given the chance to regain control of their lives, which often times means returning to the workforce. However, for those that have been out of work for a long period of time, delivering a successful interview performance can be a key to securing a position, particularly in the current economic environment. It is through programs like these that MHCD hopes it can give their participants a shot at re-assimilating into the community and becoming an active and contributing member.

About MHCD

The Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) provides outcomes-based mental health services to the City and County of Denver. A private, non-profit organization, its mission is enriching lives and minds by focusing on strengths and recovery. MHCD is recognized as a national center of excellence in mental healthcare because of its many innovative approaches to treatment and measuring results. MHCD provides services in 37 locations, has therapists in 18 public schools and clinical staff in 3 homeless shelters and 3 youth centers. Last year, the Mental Health Center of Denver served 13,600 adults, children, and families. Visit http://www.mhcd.org.