A process analysis of supported employment services for persons with serious psychiatric disability: implications for program design

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rogers, E. Sally^; | MacDonald-Wilson, Kim | Danley, Karen | Martin, Rose | Anthony, William A.

Affiliations: Boston University, Sargent College Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 930 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 617 3533549; Fax: + 1 617 3537700.

Abstract: Meeting the vocational needs of adults with mental illness is one of the most critical issues currently facing mental health planners and policy makers. An extensive technology has been developed for one such service: supported employment. This paper reports on a process analysis of an innovative 3-year research and demonstration project which was designed to evaluate a supported employment (SE) program designed specifically for persons with psychiatric disability. A process and method were implemented and an instrument developed to monitor the intervention. Twenty participants were enrolled in the study; enrollment was staggered and occurred over a period of 12 months. Results revealed that SE staff had frequent, brief contact with participants in the program at varied times of day and via varied modes of contact. A large proportion of time was spent providing emotional support to help participants keep their jobs. Implications of this process analysis for program design are discussed.

Keywords: Psychiatric disability, Supported employment, Process analysis, Vocational services

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-1997-8304

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 233-242, 1997