Study Details | Pathways to Work

5962.02-Effectiveness of Ind

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that does not demonstrate that the intervention and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the intervention.

Intervention: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Services [as compared with Transitional Work Experience (TWE)]

Population and employment barriers: Homelessness, Military veteran

Services provided: Case management, Employment retention services, Substance use disorder treatment and mental health services, Work and work-based learning, Individual Placement and Support, Work experience, Work readiness activities, Job search assistance, Job development/job placement

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Study Design

Design:

Quasi-experimental design

Study group formation:

This study is a secondary analysis of data from the Therapeutic Employment Placement and Support (TEPS) demonstration, conducted from 2001 to 2005. The TEPS demonstration focused on homeless veterans who (1) were not receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health services, (2) expressed a desire to participate in competitive employment, and (3) were diagnosed with a psychiatric disability or substance use problem. Cohort 1 of TEPS included 308 veterans who were offered standard VA services, including TWE. IPS was not available to this cohort. Cohort 2 of TEPS included 322 veterans who were offered IPS and standard VA services, including TWE. In this study, the authors combined data from the two cohorts and assigned individuals to five employment groups with a total sample size of 440. The groups were based off employment patterns in the six months after TEPS enrollment and included (1) 100 veterans not working at any time, (2) 96 veterans working only in TWE, (3) 30 veterans working in TWE followed by competitive employment, (4) 58 veterans working in competitive employment without IPS (Cohort 1 only), and (5) 156 veterans working in competitive employment with IPS (Cohort 2 only). This study contrasts individuals who worked in competitive employment and received an IPS referral (Group 5) with those who were employed only in TWE (Group 2). Nine other study reviews examine the other contrasts.

Time period of study:

Individuals enrolled in the study between 2001 and 2003. (The final enrollment date is not provided, but the two-year TEPS follow-up concluded in 2005.) The study examines outcomes for six months after enrollment.

Pathways only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample Characteristics

Specific employment barriers

Were homeless	100%
Were military veterans	100%

Intervention Implementation

Implementing organization:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Intervention services:

The intervention group includes study participants in the TEPS demonstration. Individuals who enrolled in TEPS in Cohort 1 were offered standard care from the VA, including TWE. Individuals who enrolled in TEPS in Cohort 2 were offered standard VA services, including TWE and IPS. The intervention group for this review includes all individuals in Cohort 2 who were employed during the six months after TEPS enrollment, received an IPS referral, and did not work in TWE.

Mandatory services:

None.

Comparison services:

The comparison group includes study participants in the TEPS demonstration. Individuals who enrolled in TEPS in Cohort 1 were offered standard care from the VA, including TWE. Individuals who enrolled in TEPS in Cohort 2 were offered standard VA services, including TWE and IPS. The comparison group for this review includes all individuals in Cohorts 1 and 2 that received TWE during the six months after TEPS enrollment but did not engage in competitive employment (with or without IPS) during that time.

Study Publications

Leddy, Meaghan, Elina Stefanovics,, and Robert Rosenheck (2014). Health and well-being of homeless veterans participating in transitional and supported employment: Six-month outcomes, Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 51(1): 161-174. Available at https://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/2014/511/pdf/page161.pdf.

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Study of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Services [as compared with Transitional Work Experience (TWE)]