Beth Green moves into IPS role in order to assist clients in new program.
We are proud to share the success of a longtime team member! Beth Green has recently shifted into a new role serving clients in the IPS program offered by our Bemidji division.
A self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, Beth worked in a variety of jobs and industries before coming to ODC in 2011. Starting as a job coach, the lifelong learner quickly moved up into larger roles, eventually becoming an employment specialist.
“It was a field I had never given a thought to before I started, and it’s a field I don’t ever want to leave,” Beth said. “I am getting really excited. [This role] is going to be a good thing, I can feel it. When I first started as a job coach nearly ten years ago, in my heart it was like, ‘Yep, you’re here. This is where you belong.’”
IPS, or Individual Placement and Support, is a program that helps individuals with behavioral and mental health conditions find work, opening up a lot of doors for people. “I think the IPS program is incredibly beneficial to the community. The focus is on inclusive and fully integrated competitive employment of the client’s choosing,” said Kassandra Ziska, ODC Bemidji program specialist.
The primary difference between her previous role and her position in IPS is the number of staff. “I will pretty much be in my own world,” Beth said. She will have a caseload of clients that she actively assists with exploring and supporting in their chosen employment. IPS is focused more on short-term services over the use of ongoing supports, with individuals being hired directly by the employer.
“Beth has worked with ODC for a number of years,” Kassandra said. “It’s definitely easy to see her heart is in the work she does here. I’m really excited to see what this program can do for the community, and to see the program grow under Beth’s care.”
We echo Kassandra’s excitement and look forward to the continued expansion and development of the IPS program!
ODC is a nonprofit organization specializing in offering employment training and support for populations of individuals with diverse disabilities and vocational needs. Working in partnership with community businesses, we help provide options for inclusive and sustainable employment that results in greater independence.
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