Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study’s objective was to examine the impact of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services on employment and earnings outcomes for transition-age youth with depressive disorders.
- The study used a nonexperimental design to investigate the effects of VR services on successful employment and weekly earnings. The authors conducted statistical models using the Rehabilitation Service Administration national administrative data.
- The study found significant relationships between VR services and employment, with recipients of college training, on-the-job supports, and supported employment twice as likely to have employment than recipients of other VR services. The study also found significant relationships between VR services and weekly earnings, with recipients of diagnosis/treatment services, occupational/vocational training, college training, and transportation services twice as likely to have higher earnings than recipients of other VR services. However, recipients of job readiness training, job placement assistance, on-the-job support services and supported employment were twice as likely to have lower earnings than recipients of other VR services.
- The study receives a moderate evidence rating. This means we are somewhat confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the VR services accessed, but other factors might also have contributed.
Intervention Examined
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services
Features of the Study
In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) required VR agencies to expand services for youth with disabilities, including transition-aged youth with depressive disorders. This study used a nonexperimental design to estimate the relationships between specific VR services and employment outcomes for Transition Aged Youth (TAY) with depressive disorders. The study sample included 4,722 TAY between the ages of 16 and 24, with a median age of 19, who were unemployed and classified as having a depressive or mood disorder at the time of their application for VR services. The majority of the sample were male (51.1%), white (63.8%), and high school graduates (60%). Everyone in the sample received VR services prior to the closing of their case with an employment status update (employed or unemployed). The sample did not include individuals with co-occurring conditions or secondary disabilities.
The authors used a statistical model to compare the outcomes across the various VR services accessed by the study sample. The authors analyzed national administrative data from the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA-911) for fiscal year 2015. This dataset reported on VR participants demographics, received services, disability status, education, and employment. The vocational rehabilitation programs included in the dataset were run by both federal and state and agencies and included 13 services. Available services included assessment, college training, VR counseling and guidance, diagnosis and treatment of impairment, job readiness training, job search assistance, job placement services, on-the-job supports, on-the-job training, supported employment, occupational or vocational training, transportation services, and maintenance services.
Findings
Employment
- The study found that eight VR services were significantly related to successful employment: counseling and guidance, occupational and vocational training, on-the-job training, job search assistance, job placement assistance, college training, on-the-job supports, and supported employment.
- Recipients of college training, on-the-job supports, and supported employment were twice as likely to have employment than recipients of other VR services.
- No other significant relationships with employment were found.
Earnings and wages
- The study found that four VR services were significantly related to higher weekly earnings: diagnosis/treatment services, occupational/vocational training, college training, and transportation services. Recipients of these VR services were twice as likely to have higher earnings than recipients of other VR services.
- However, five VR services were significantly related to lower weekly earnings: job search assistance, job readiness training, job placement assistance, on-the-job support services, and supported employment. Recipients of job readiness training, job placement assistance, on-the-job support services, and supported employment were twice as likely to have lower earnings than recipients of other VR services.
- No other significant relationships with earnings were found.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of the causal evidence presented in this report is moderate because it was based on a well-implemented nonexperimental design. This means we are somewhat confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the VR services accessed, but other factors might also have contributed.