State Vocational Rehabilitation Research Articles

The Impact of Disability and Type of Crime on Employment Outcomes of African American and Latino Offenders

Individuals with criminal histories who struggle to gain employment may choose to turn to illegal activity or seek state and federal program assistance to support themselves and their families. African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos with disabilities and criminal histories experience barriers (i.e., disability, criminal history, and race/ethnicity) that often prevent them from obtaining or maintaining competitive integrated employment. The purpose of this article was to examine the extant literature pertinent to disability and criminal history as employment obstacles among African American and Hispanic/Latino ex-offenders. As the foundation, the article categorizes employment outcomes for these target population by disability and criminal history, discusses how state vocational rehabilitation agencies can develop a criminal history service delivery model to improve employment outcomes, presents implications for improving employment outcomes, and explores future research.

Predictors of Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation Treatment Compliance Among African Americans with Chronic Pain Conditions: An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this study was to explore potential predictors of medical and vocational rehabilitation treatment compliance among African Americans receiving chronic pain management and state vocational rehabilitation agency sponsored services. Study participants included 51 African Americans with chronic pain associated with an array of health conditions (i.e., head pain, neck pain, back pain, leg pain, and diabetes) served by the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services during fiscal years 2014-2016. The results revealed select demographic characteristics, social support, and health disparities as predictors of compliance. Future implications for rehabilitation policy, service, and research are presented.

State vocational rehabilitation: A resource for auxiliary aids and services

Many times colleges and universities ask “Are there any resources out there that may pay for auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities?” While there may not be many resources, there is one, and it is a big one: state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

Evaluating the relative impact of State Vocational Rehabilitation and American Job Centers on contributing to the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Evaluating the relative impact of State Vocational Rehabilitation and American Job Centers on contributing to the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Rehabilitation Counseling Practice in State Vocational Rehabilitation and the Effect of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Purpose: This article includes a study that sheds light on the implications of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) mandated VR knowledge and skills requirements for VR counselors in the state VR program. It is also a commentary on current training, accreditation and intraprofessional challenges in the larger counseling field. Our study investigated VR directors’ perceptions of the importance and counselor preparedness in specific WIOA mandated knowledge areas. Findings revealed that VR directors consider WIOA mandated knowledge areas (e.g., employment-related and case management) to be very important, and they see room for improvement in the preparation of VR counselors to execute these functions. Our commentary provides readers with information related rehabilitation counseling history, intraprofessional practice, and guidelines for the future of rehabilitation counseling and the larger counseling profession.

Predicting Rehabilitation Success Rate Trends Among Ethnic Minorities Served by State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies: A National Time Series Forecast Model Demonstration Study

Purpose: This study assessed and demonstrated the efficacy of two select empirical forecast models (i.e., autoregressive integrated moving average [ARIMA] model vs. grey model [GM]) in accurately predicting state vocational rehabilitation agency (SVRA) rehabilitation success rate trends across six different racial and ethnic population cohorts (i.e., Blacks or African Americans, non-Latino Whites, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Latinos). Methods: Eleven years of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)-911 case record data (fiscal year [FY] 2004 through 2014) on SVRA employment outcomes were extracted and entered into the ARIMA model and GM to test their predictive performance. Results: The GM was demonstrated to be superior to the ARIMA model in predictive accuracy performance. Remarkably, although the GM (1, 1) 3-year frequency curve projection simulation results (FY 2015–2017) showed a slight upward trajectory in the number of successfully rehabilitated Latinos compared to baseline FY 2014 actual numbers, more drastic downward trajectories were projected for Blacks or African Americans, non-Latino Whites, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. Conclusions: The GM represents a demonstrably capable and promising forecasting tool that could be useful to SVRA leaders, policy makers, advocates, and researchers in simulating predictions that inform future policy initiatives, influence strategic plan development, and help guide the state of the science on future research and development foci. Additional multiple comprehensive demonstration trials, nonetheless, are needed to either confirm or refute the GM’s veracity in national and state predictive accuracy and curve fitting performance.

Effectiveness of a Training Program to Enhance Clinical Supervision of State Vocational Rehabilitation Personnel

A training program to improve clinical supervision behavior, knowledge, self-efficacy, and working alliance among state vocational rehabilitation supervisors (SVRS) was studied. SVRS ( n = 180) were randomly assigned to either the control or experimental group. To further validate training effectiveness, counselors ( n = 350) who were assigned to both groups of supervisors also completed parallel outcome measures evaluating their supervisors’ performance. Results indicate differential impact when comparing changes across baseline, Posttest 1 (approximately 6 weeks after baseline), and Posttest 2 data collection (approximately 6 months after baseline) between both supervisory groups. Specifically, in comparison with the control group, supervisors who received the training reported greater changes at Posttest 1 regarding time spent in individual supervision, frequency, and time devoted to group supervision as well as perceived value in providing clinical supervision. Posttest 2 evaluation between groups noted differences in clinical supervision knowledge and behavior, frequency of individual supervision sessions, and time spent in group supervision. In contrast, counselors assigned to one of the supervisory groups reported few differences in parallel outcome measures. Although the intervention provided some support for its effectiveness for supervisors, further modifications are needed before a valid training model exists for rehabilitation counseling.

Vocational rehabilitation service usage and outcomes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

BackgroundIn the pursuit of improving employment outcomes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), understanding how participants are using Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and which services result in competitive integrated employment is of great interest to advocates, families, professionals, and policy makers. The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationships between participant characteristics, service delivery, and employment outcomes for individuals with ASD in state VR programs. MethodThe Rehabilitation Services Administration's Case Service Report (RSA-911) database for fiscal year 2013 was examined using a binary logistic regression analysis to explore ASD characteristics and service variables. ResultsResults indicate that ASD characteristics, defined as a source of impairment by VR, had predictive capacity for administrative VR services participants received (e.g. assessment and vocational rehabilitation counseling and guidance (VRCG)), but not for job-related services (e.g. job search, job placement, and on-the-job supports). In addition, job-related VR services were more likely to be associated with integrated employment at closure as compared to administrative VR services. In some cases, additional variables related to gender, race, and state system decreased the likelihood of a VR recipient receivingspecific services or achieving integrated employment. ConclusionDiscussion includes how awareness of service access and equity can assist in improving the quality and outcomes of VR services.

Pilot Testing a Digital Career Literacy Training for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals

Digital career literacy encompasses the skills needed to find and maintain employment in the modern job market. Unfortunately, many state vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals report feeling unprepared to help their consumers with digital career literacy tasks. To address this gap, we developed and tested five training webinars with VR professionals in Montana, Alabama, and Washington. We randomly assigned VR offices to intervention or control group. VR professionals in the intervention group received access to the training webinars. We collected survey data at baseline and 4 months after the intervention’s conclusion ( n = 136). A repeated measures ANOVA showed significant group by factor effects in counselor preparedness to use online tools during the VR process (intervention group: M1 = 24.41, SD1 = 7.62; M2 = 28.76, SD2 = 7.27; control group: M1 = 25.94, SD1 = 8.64; M2 = 27.21, SD2 = 9.14); F(1, 124) = 5.957, p = .016. A McNemar nonparametric test indicated that more VR professionals in the intervention group reported using LinkedIn at the 4-month follow-up, as compared with the control group ( p = .039). There were no significant changes in use of other online tools. This may relate to administrative policies that do not provide clear guidelines for using online tools in the counseling process.

Post-secondary apprenticeships for youth: Creating opportunities for high demand employment1

Background: The Paid Apprenticeship and college for Youth with disabilities (PAY Check) program is a partnership between [Louisiana's] University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), state Vocational Rehabilitation, Local Education Agencies (LEA), Delgado Community College (DCC) and University Medical Center-New Orleans (UMC-NO). PAY Check uses a 'braided' funding approach and builds on foundations established by an earlier post-secondary education (PSE) for youth with intellectual disabilities grant from the US Department of Education. PAY Check includes a high school diploma option, PSE, paid apprenticeship components, and incorporates self-determination training throughout. The program serves students ages 18-21 years who receive special education services and are eligible for VR services. All components of PAY Check take place in integrated community settings (e.g. DCC campus, public transportation, paid apprenticeship sites) and provide opportunities for participants to acquire and practice pre-employment transition skills (Pre-ETS) as delineated in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (PL 113-803, 2016).

Psychiatric versus physical disabilities: A comparison of barriers and facilitators to employment.

Guided by the social model of disability (Nagi, 1965), this study aims to better identify barriers to and facilitators of employment for individuals with psychiatric disabilities and how these factors may differ for individuals with physical disabilities. Our analysis uses data from the Survey of Disability and Employment on 2,148 individuals with psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, or both who in 2014 applied for services from 1 of 3 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies. We identify type of disability based on respondents' open-ended descriptions of their impairments. We use univariate statistics and multivariate regression estimates to compare employment history, and potential barriers to and facilitators of employment between individuals with psychiatric and physical disabilities. VR applicants with psychiatric disabilities have had longer periods of nonemployment than individuals with physical disabilities alone. They are significantly more likely than individuals with physical disabilities alone to report nonhealth reasons, such as getting fired and lacking skills, as barriers to employment. We found that a number of accommodations, including flexible schedules and modified work duties, are significantly associated with continued employment. VR counselors should be aware that although most applicants with psychiatric disabilities place a great deal of importance on being employed, they face additional barriers to employment. (PsycINFO Database Record

Public provision of postsecondary education for transition-age youth with mental health conditions.

We examine the role of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies (SVRA) in providing postsecondary education support to transition-age youth with and without mental health conditions (MHC) to provide insights into who receives such supports and the association between the receipt of postsecondary education support and successful VR exits. We used data from SVRA administrative records (fiscal years 2002 through 2013) for a secondary analytical approach that relied on descriptive and regression methods, resulting in the identification of 436,883 VR youth clients who applied from 2002 to 2004. Linear regression models examined the relationships between youth demographic and service characteristics and each of 4 binary outcomes derived from the administrative records: (1) receipt of VR services, (2) receipt of college support (conditional on receiving services), (3) receipt of vocational training support (conditional on receiving services), and (4) exiting with employment. SVRAs had a wide range in the provision of postsecondary education support to clients with MHC, from almost none receiving such supports to more than half. VR youth clients with MHC were less likely than those without MHC to have received any VR services or college support. Receipt of postsecondary education support was positively associated with being employed at the time of VR exit, and the associations for those with MHC were not statistically different from those without MHC. SVRAs have the potential to play a large role in the provision of postsecondary education support. Although those who received postsecondary education support were more likely to be employed at the time of VR exit, the provision of that support came at a cost-the high financial costs of that type of support relative to other services offered by SVRAs, as well as the opportunity cost of the client's time. (PsycINFO Database Record

Supported education for individuals with psychiatric disabilities: State of the practice and policy implications.

Supported education (SEd) is a promising practice that supports and encourages educational goals and attainment among individuals with psychiatric disabilities. This paper provides insights into how SEd objectives are pursued in different settings, assesses the evidence base, and discusses policy implications. Insights from 3 data sources were synthesized: published literature, an environmental scan, and 3 site visits to programs that support the education goals of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. While setting, target populations, level of coordination with supported employment, and financing strategies varied, common SEd components emerged: specialized and dedicated staffing, one-on-one and group skill-building activities, assistance with navigating the academic setting and coordinating different services, and linkages with mental health counseling. The evidence base is growing; however, many published studies to date do not employ rigorous methodology. Conclusions and Implications for Policy and Practice: Continued specification, operationalization, and testing of SEd core components are needed. The components of the evolving SEd model would benefit from rigorous testing to evaluate impact on degree completion and other key impacts such as employment; health, mental health, or recovery; and community participation. In addition to funding streams from special education and Medicaid, new opportunities for increasing the availability of SEd include the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) reauthorization, which requires state vocational rehabilitation agencies to fund preemployment services for transition-age individuals. New "set-aside" requirements for the Mental Health Services Block Grant will increase funding for early intervention services for individuals with serious mental illness, potentially including SEd. (PsycINFO Database Record

Experience, Knowledge, and Perceived Comfort and Clinical Competency in Working With Suicidal Clients Among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

Despite the well-documented elevated rates of suicidality among people with disabilities, no published research has examined rehabilitation counselors’ experiences or perceived competency in suicide assessment or intervention. In the present study, we surveyed 223 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors from state VR offices in eight states regarding their experiences with, knowledge of, and perceived comfort with and competency in suicide assessment and intervention. Almost a quarter of participants worked with suicidal clients once a month or more, with more than half reporting working with suicidal clients at least once a year. Two thirds of participants reported having received some training related to suicide, and participants demonstrated both a good knowledge of suicide myths and facts, and a willingness to work with suicidal clients. However, most participants did not perceive themselves as being competent in core skills related to suicide assessment and intervention. These results suggest that more clinical training in suicide assessment and intervention is needed for VR counselors.

Prevalence and Quality of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment in the United States.

The individual placement and support (IPS) model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness is an evidence-based practice. Factors including a national learning community promoting IPS and enforcement of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision have spurred the growth of IPS nationwide. In this study we first evaluated the national prevalence and quality of IPS programs. We then evaluated the impact of learning community membership and Olmstead settlements on IPS program penetration and quality across the United States. We interviewed representatives from 48 state behavioral health agencies and 51 state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Survey questions examined the number of IPS programs in each state, the presence of an Olmstead settlement mandating employment services for people with serious mental illness, and the presence of three indicators of quality in IPS programs: collaboration between statebehavioral health and vocational rehabilitation agencies, regular, independent fidelity monitoring, and technical assistance and training for IPS programs. Respondents from 38 (75%) states, including 19 states in the IPS Learning Community and 19 outside the learning community, reported a total of 523 IPS programs nationwide (M = 14, SD = 16). The state IPS program penetration rate (number of IPS programs per 1,000,000 people) ranged from 0.05 to 16.62 (M = 3.61, SD = 3.62) among states with IPS. The penetration rate was similar for learning community and non-learning community states with IPS, but learning community states were much more likely than non-learning community states with IPS to report the presence of each of three quality indicators. Eleven states reported Olmstead or other settlements that positively impacted employment services for people with serious mental illness, but among the 38states with IPS programs, Olmstead states did not differ from non-Olmstead states in IPS program penetration or on the quality indicators. Nationally, most states provide IPS programs, but the within-state penetration rate and quality of implementation vary widely. While learning community and non-learning community states with IPS do not differ in the prevalence of IPS programs, learning community states are much more likely to report key quality indicators, which may enhance these states' potential for sustaining and expanding IPS. Olmstead settlements have not yet shown a direct impact on the penetration and quality of IPS, but as the Department of Justice continues to enforce the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, their significance may increase.

A Systematic Review of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency-Based Literature

Purpose:To conduct a systematic review (SR) of 550 studies produced between 1970 and 2008 that focus on programs and/or services provided by state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies believed to impact client and/or program outcomes.Method:Authors used a 5-step SR protocol to evaluate and summarize study content and outcomes, study design, and data collection methods.Results:Results indicate that the VR research base is highly varied in terms of the research focus with respect to programs and services, populations, and outcomes and that it spans across a wide range of research designs and data collection methods.Conclusions:The majority of the studies included in this review relied on administrative data, particularly Rehabilitation Services Administration data, and surveys. Only a small number of studies employed some type of experimental design, suggesting a lack of application of this type of research design. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The Use of Feedback in Group Counseling in a State Vocational Rehabilitation Setting

This study examined the impact of providing progress feedback to individuals with disabilities receiving services at a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency. Thirty individuals were randomly assigned to receive either group therapy (treatment-as-usual, TAU) or group therapy plus feedback (treatment, Fb) during a 10-week counseling program at one of five agency offices. Each week, participants attended a 90-minute session and completed a measure of mental health (Outcome Questionnaire-45). Longitudinal multilevel models were used to evaluate the hypothesis that participation in the Fb group would lead to improved mental health. The effect of the intervention was conditional on receipt of public benefits for three mental health outcomes: interpersonal relationships (p=.025); social role performance (p=.021), and overall mental healthfunctioning (p=.028). Additionally, a significantly greater proportion of participants were employed at the end of the study (p=0.012). Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of feedback interventions in VR settings.

Vocational outcomes of people with alcohol abuse/dependence who received state vocational rehabilitation services

Vocational outcomes of people with alcohol abuse/dependence who received state vocational rehabilitation services

Stratified Leadership Components and Needs Within Public Rehabilitation

Leadership is a critical strategic variable within program management as a process that can motivate employees and influence agency performance. Specifically within the field of vocational rehabilitation (VR), there has been little study of the dynamics of leadership and how these influence the agency, employees, and clients. To date, much of the leadership-related research has focused on clinical supervision, yet there remains a need to continue to build the supervision literature base and to broaden the view of leadership to include the conventional strata found in VR agencies: administration, supervision, and direct service (aspiring leaders) levels. The current study outlines a more comprehensive model of leadership within state VR agencies and then explores administrator’s perceptions of important leadership components, needs for further development, and expected vacancies at each level. The findings reveal expectations of high turnover among senior leader positions over the next 5 years, specify important elements of leadership at each level, and identify numerous needs which are not being adequately addressed through current systems. These results hold value in promoting general understanding of leadership functioning in rehabilitation agencies, informing the design of targeted professional development programs, and establishing improved succession planning across organizations.

Implementation of resource facilitation to assess referral needs and promote access to state vocational rehabilitation services in people with traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACTResource facilitation (RF) has shown promise for improving return to work (RTW) after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but little is known about the RF needs of people recruited from acute trauma settings. In this descriptive study, we sought to track referral needs, describe problems in accessing state vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and highlight the role of RF in overcoming these difficulties in 45 adults with complicated mild to severe TBI seeking RTW who were recruited from acute trauma care. Participants received a referral to the state VR agency, along with RF services for up to one year. Case coordinators (CCs) conducted biweekly assessments, provided referrals, and helped address problems in accessing services. On average 4.92 referrals were generated per participant; 91% required referrals. CCs made 44% of referrals, while physicians/other healthcare professionals generated 33% and VR counsellors generated 23%. CCs filled a gap in referring for financial and transportation difficulties. Two case studies illustrate implementation of the RF paradigm. RF provides systematic assessment and referral for services needed to facilitate utilisation of state VR services. Among persons with TBI recruited from acute trauma settings in the US, CCs provide referrals that are often not generated by other sources.