Implementing Supported Employmentas an Evidence-Based Practice

Abstract

Supported employment for people with severe mental illness is an evidence-based practice, based on converging findings from eight randomized controlled trials and three quasi-experimental studies. The critical ingredients of supported employment have been well described, and a fidelity scale differentiates supported employment programs from other types of vocational services. The effectiveness of supported employment appears to be generalizable across a broad range of client characteristics and community settings. More research is needed on long-term outcomes and on cost-effectiveness. Access to supported employment programs remains a problem, despite their increasing use throughout the United States. The authors discuss barriers to implementation and strategies for overcoming them based on successful experiences in several states.

Enhanced vocational rehabilitation for Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury and mental illness: Pilot study

“…Successful employment fosters financial independence while promoting engagement in social relationships and enhancing emotional well-being [25][26]. Successful return to work is associated with significant psychological and rehabilitative benefits, including improved mental health [27][28], opportunities to enhance self-esteem [29][30], and better quality of life [31][32][33].…”

Optimizing medical care to facilitate and sustain employment after spinal cord injury

“…One method, evidence-based supported employment, which consists of intensive individualized service that integrates vocational rehabilitation into clinical care, can greatly improve the likelihood of RTW for people with serious mental illness [6][7]. Community reintegration of Veterans with complex mental and physical disabilities is a priority area for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).…”

Effects of structured vocational services in ex-offender veterans with mental illness: 6-month follow-up

“…Programs such as Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) and Transitional Work Experience focus on work-hardening skills and employment preparation by providing veterans with temporary supervised employment opportunities either at the VA or in the community. Within CWT are Supported Employment (SE) programs, a vocational rehabilitation modality that uses an integrated approach to help people obtain and maintain community-based competitive employment in their chosen occupation [24][25][26]. SE is available for veterans with a variety of difficulties, including serious mental illness, polytraumatic injuries, and spinal cord injuries.…”