Research Projects

Optimizing the employment outcomes for people living in the Downtown Eastside

Status: Completed

Project Lead: Skye Barbic

The overall objective of this project was to increase access to meaningful employment for unemployed British Columbians living in the Downtown Eastside with Individual Placement Support (IPS) and Peer Support. IPS is the existing “gold standard” for employment support for adults experiencing mental illness. To date, we are unaware of any known studies that has examined how to embed IPS in primary care services for complex populations. Nor are we aware of any known literature supporting the value of peer support added to the IPS model.