Supported Employment for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury History: Is it Working?

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To examine characteristics and employment outcomes among Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) history enrolled in Supported Employment. This program provides intense, individualized supported for individuals whose disabilities interfere with finding and maintaining employment. Supported Employment providers work closely with the Veteran's clinical treatment team, Veterans, and employers to ensure clinical and vocational supports are provided to facilitate workplace success. <h3>Design</h3> Review of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative and electronic medical record data collected between 2020-2022. <h3>Setting</h3> 12 VA medical centers. <h3>Participants</h3> Veterans with TBI history. <h3>Interventions</h3> Supported Employment. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Employment status. <h3>Results</h3> 92 Veterans with TBI history were referred to a VA Supported Employment program. They were primarily male (96%), White (74%), non-Hispanic (85%), Post-9/11 Veterans (59%) with an average age of 41 ± 10.4 years. The majority (83%) received VA service-connected disability compensation for up to 29 health conditions, and 30% were 100% service-connected. The majority were referred by the Polytrauma/TBI clinic (53%). At enrollment, they had been unemployed for 5 months (median). To date, half (51%) obtained at least 1 job within approximately 3 months (median = 97 days) of Supported Employment program entry. Incarceration history, current homelessness, and level of service-connected disability rating did not differ among Veterans who did or did not obtain employment (all ps > .05). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The majority of Veterans with TBI history and co-occurring military-related health conditions have demonstrated success in obtaining employment within a relatively short amount of time following enrollment in a Supported Employment program. Health and psychosocial factors that may be barriers to employment were not associated with obtaining a job, underscoring the effectiveness of Supported Employment services for Veterans with TBI history who may otherwise have employment challenges. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have no conflicts to declare.