Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Estela Rodriguez, an intern in the juvenile department of the County Attorney's Office printed and organized court documents Thursday. Rodriguez is one of 18 temporary employees at the office. (Rudy Gutierrez/El Paso Times)

EL PASO -- Finding work typically came with an extra hurdle for Estela Rodriguez.

Each time a prospective employer asked the 54-year-old retail worker to submit to a drug test, she disclosed the medicine she takes to treat severe depression. Her chances of being hired dwindled.

But she and 17 others have received a second shot at employment through the county government.

It has been hiring temporary workers who have grappled with severe mental illnesses.

The pilot program was developed by the El Paso Mental Health & Mental Retardation center. It is the first of its kind with a local government or company.

The county set aside $100,000 that pays the wages of workers in the program. Now in its fourth month, it has had several successes.

Tapping into a pool of temporary workers is saving the county from costly contracts with an employment agency, officials said. In addition, the new staffers have helped fill vacancies during a hiring freeze enacted this year.

County Commissioner Dan Haggerty said cutting costs was a welcome by-product of the program. But lending a hand to an overlooked segment of the work force could pay dividends long after the temporary staffers move on.

"These are talented people who are desperate for somebody to give them a chance," Haggerty said.

Each worker is guided by a job coach provided by the Mental Health & Mental Retardation center. Wages are set in accordance with job descriptions.

"One of the best things is watching their faces light up when they find out they are going to get paid more than minimum wage," said Margie Duran, a job coach.

Among the workers are an accountant, a paralegal and several maintenance workers.

Tamera Newbold, 46, hopes that working part time in the "hot checks" section of the county attorney's office will soon lead to a permanent position.

She said treatment of bipolar disorder left a gap in her résumé.

Newbold, who once owned and operated a cleaning service in Arizona, is trying to get back into the rhythm of working five days a week.

"I needed some structure, and this job is helping me to dress better, to think better about things and to get more organized," she said. "I'm pretty excited to feel like I'm part of a team."

The temporary positions were to last six weeks for each employee. But the hiring freeze has extended those periods.

Assistant County Attorney Ralph Girvin said the program had surpassed expectations.

Estela Rodriguez, who files and copies documents for the juvenile section of the county attorney's office, hopes to do well enough to stay on after the hiring freeze is lifted.

The job program is proving that people with mental illnesses are productive, said Christine Calderon, chief operating officer for El Paso Provider Group, part of the Mental Health & Mental Retardation center.

Calderon said requests for more employees for the program are growing, and she hopes that other employers learn from the county's example.

Haggerty said El Paso Mayor John Cook had expressed interest in bringing the job program to the city government.

Given the indications that the county is saving money, Haggerty said he is willing to champion the program for another year of funding.

"I'm hoping we can take this on the road and show other people how efficient and how competent these people are," he said.