Brandon Edgerton enrolled in JCI’s Supported Employment, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to ensure he could successfully achieve recovery while maintaining full-time employment. He enrolled in IPS in January of 2017, and at that time, he was able to regain full-time employment with JCI as a production employee.
This opportunity was different for Brandon as he was engaged in the IPS program and received the support and services he needed to be successful in the workplace and his recovery. Brandon was a top performer on the production line throughout his employment and remained committed to his job regardless of the tribulations and barriers he experienced.
While participating in the IPS program, Brandon began exploring career interests and determined he wanted to become a Peer Support Specialist. He completed the necessary prerequisites and obtained his certification as a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist in May 2019. Brandon worked with the JCI IPS team and Vocational Rehabilitation to arrange an internship as a Peer Support Specialist at JCI’s Behavioral Health Services location.
Brandon left his job as a Production Employee with JCI in June to pursue an opportunity as a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) intern with JCI Behavioral Health Services. Brandon has gained the power and authority over his life, and he has created his destiny and lead himself to a life of freedom.
“I’m interning at JCI as a Peer Support Specialist. I shadow Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Individual Peer Support staff to learn my new role. I’m responsible for meeting my goals list created by JCI BHS Senior Manager in collaboration with VR. It’s my responsibility to remain engaged and continue to learn my role as a PSS.”
“I like working with the clients in the PSR and IPS programs. I pursued this career path because I want to help people, and I am going to do the best I can to accomplish that. It’s a weird job, talking about your mistakes in order to help someone. I would have never thought my story would help others. It also helps me in my recovery to talk about my past and how much I have grown. I did all of this because before now, I didn’t feel like I had a purpose in life, but now I do, this job makes me feel like I have a purpose,” Brandon said.
“My IPS Employment Specialist, Savannah Palmisano set up everything and guided me in this career. I would have never known this was a job I could do or that it was possible for me to do an internship if it weren’t for her and the support of JCI,” Brandon said.
“Brandon is a role model client in the IPS program. He worked hard to achieve his goals and relied on his IPS supports for guidance and direction during the process. I am proud to be a witness to all that he has accomplished, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. It has been an honor to guide Brandon and watch him prosper. The sky’s the limit with him, and I know he will continue to shine as a Peer Support Specialist,” said Savannah Palmisano.
-Johnston County Industries News Release
