"Graduation day from the Center was the most important day of my life."
Herman Marcus
Our Employment Training and Access Model
In 1995, Community Access introduced the Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center (HTH) as a model for job training and placement for individuals with combined histories of mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse and incarceration. Located in Harlem, the Center provides classroom-based training, internships, job placement assistance and alumni programs that help people develop the skills and knowledge they need to find jobs for the first time or to re-enter the workforce.
Peer-to-peer learning is at the core of the model, harnessing the experiences and talents of people with psychiatric disabilities to ready other individuals for the workforce. Since its inception, HTH has revolutionized how our organization delivers job training opportunities for mental health services consumers. Our model has also become a gold standard for many other mental health service providers nationally and internationally.
Our Classroom Programs
HTH programs focus on job skills training; life skills development; and workforce preparation. The training curriculum is delivered to 40 students per class, and encompasses over 100 hours of classroom instruction that incorporates didactic exercises, group activities, role-playing, and counseling across these core learning areas:
- Career planning and goal-setting
- Resume writing and interview skills training
- Conflict resolution and crisis management
- Computer literacy training
- Mentoring and counseling techniques
- Teamwork skills development
- Financial literacy training, including budget planning
- Workplace etiquette
- Mental health and wellness planning
Our Impact
- HTH programs are free and open to mental health consumers in New York City.
- In 15 years, HTH has helped over 800 graduates gain the skills and knowledge they need to find meaningful employment at over 400 agencies.
- HTH currently serves over 250 participants every year.
- 80-90% of our graduates go on to jobs in hospitals, clinics, and prisons, as well as agencies outside of human services.
- Many of our graduates pursue higher education opportunities.
- The Center offers graduates lifetime access to job placement assistance services, volunteer activities, and professional networking.
