Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program (EIDP) on employment, earnings, and public benefits receipt.
- The study used a randomized controlled trial to compare the outcomes between participants enrolled in the EIDP and the control group. The study conducted statistical models using administrative data from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
- The study found that EIDP participants were more likely to be employed, less likely to receive public benefits, and had higher monthly earnings compared to the control group.
- This study receives a high evidence rating. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program (EIDP), and not to other factors.
Intervention Examined
Employment Intervention Demonstration Program (EIDP)
Features of the Intervention
EIDP was a five-year program funded by the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that provided supported employment programs for people with psychiatric disabilities. The program served adults 18 years or older who had a diagnosis of mental illness who were currently unemployed but wanted to work. EIDP was implemented across eight sites in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the United States by employment specialists who worked with individuals to achieve competitive employment that met their career preferences.
Features of the Study
The study used a randomized controlled trial to compare outcomes between participants enrolled in EIDP and the control group over a 13-year period (2000–2012). The study sample included 449 participants who were randomly assigned after study enrollment: 234 in the EIDP and 215 in the control group. Over half of the sample was White non-Hispanic (52%), male (52%), had a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum (54%), received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits (70% and 56% respectively), and lived in the southwest region of the United States (49%). Participants enrolled in EIDP received supported employment services to gain competitive employment and vocational supports. Participants in the control group received usual employment services with unenhanced vocational rehabilitation services. Study authors used a statistical model to compare the outcomes between the EIDP and control group using administrative data obtained from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The outcomes included employment, earnings, and attainment of SSA nonbeneficiary status through suspension or termination of disability cash payments due to work (NSTW).
Findings
Employment
- The study found that EIDP participants were three times more likely to have competitive employment during follow up than the control group. This was a statistically significant difference.
Earnings and wages
- The study found that EIDP participants had significantly higher monthly earnings than the control group, a difference of $23.82.
Public benefits receipt
- The study found that EIDP participants were significantly more likely to attain NSTW during follow up compared to the control group.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
While the study took place at sites across four regions in the United States, the location of all eight sites was not mentioned. The local economic conditions of the sites may have had an impact on the employment and earnings of participants.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it was based on a well implemented randomized controlled trail. This means we are confident that the any estimated effects are attributable to the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program, and not to other factors.