Research Database: Article Details
| Citation: | Appel, P. W., Smith, R., Schmeidler,J. B., & Randell, J. (2000). Impact of a vocational counselor on employment-related outcomes among methadone patients. Evaluation and Program Planning, 23 (4), 437-448. |
| Title: | Impact of a vocational counselor on employment-related outcomes among methadone patients |
| Authors: | Appel, P. W., Smith, R., Schmeidler,J. B., & Randell, J. |
| Year: | 2000 |
| Journal/Publication: | Evaluation and Program Planning |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Science Ltd. |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0149-7189(00)00034-3 |
| Full text: | http://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://www.sciencedirect.com... |
| Peer-reviewed? | Yes |
| NIDILRR-funded? | Not reported |
| Research design: | Quasi-experimental |
Structured abstract:
| Background: | There had been ongoing concerns from New York state government about the steady decline in the rate of employment among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients. One effort to try and change that trend was the VENUS project. The project was designed to identify obstacles to the provision and use of vocational–educational (v–e) services in MMT programs, and then, to evaluate selected remedial interventions. The VENUS project implemented the role of “vocational integrator” to enhance the use of v–e resources in routine MMT clinic operations and removed welfare disincentives for patients. The vocational integrator increased v–e participation by patients while the removal of the welfare disincentive to employment was associated with a small decline in patient v–e involvement. Another initiative was to improve patient v–e participation and employment by placing a full-time vocational rehabilitation counselor (VRC) in an MMT clinic. The objective was to provide on-site v–e services and improve v–e outcomes. |
| Purpose: | The purpose of this paper was to summarize results of the intervention. The overall objective was to show how patient involvement in v-e can be enhanced by having a full time on site VRC integrated into daily operations. |
| Setting: | The settings were two adjacent methadone treatment clinics affiliated with a hospital in Jamaica, Queens, New York |
| Study sample: | The sample size in the MM intervention clinic was 364 patients. Earlier admissions comprised 68% of Clinic 1 patients. Two-thirds of this group were male; 57% were Black; and median age was 33 years. Median time in treatment for the early admissions was 33 months. The sample size in the comparison clinic was 358 patients. |
| Intervention: | The intervention was in-house vocational rehabilitation counseling. Intervention and comparison groups were not matched or assigned. One setting delivered the intervention and the other provided standard treatment. |
| Control or comparison condition: | Intervention and comparison groups were not matched or assigned. |
| Data collection and analysis: | Aggregate data regarding v-e services offered to patients were obtained from reports submitted monthly state substance abuse office. This provided information on the volume and type of service activities provided throughout the study period. In addition the VRC provided individual service information on each person served. Data on individual service delivery and monthly patient v–e status provided project implementation and outcome data. In Clinic 1; v–e status data for patients in a comparison clinic (Clinic 2; N=358) allowed assessment of the VRC's impact. Vocational-educational services increased significantly in Clinic 1 and declined in Clinic 2. Logistic regression of factors involved in staying or becoming vocationally involved (vocationally involved refers to working full- or part-time, or being enrolled in education/training) vs. staying or becoming vocationally uninvolved among patients in Clinics 1 and 2 were conducted. Logistic regression showed that pre-treatment/at admission employment heavily influenced positive v-e change and that VRC services contributed significantly to v-e change among patients not working at admission. For the first and second hypotheses, a repeated measures of motivation to find employment and of eight job-seeking activities for the two intervention groups were compared using linear, mixed-effects models. The third and fourth hypotheses were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. For the third hypotheses a total motivation score was calculated by summing the motivation scores across the six time points of the 12-week intervention. For the fourth hypotheses, a total job seeking score was calculated by summing the number of job search activities over the 12-week intervention period. |
| Findings: | Having a VRC in a MM clinic increased v-e activity and outcomes. Results show increases in average number of counseling sessions, assessments conducted, v-e plans developed, and in the number of patients involved in counseling and pre-employment groups/workshops each month. Referrals for education, training and employment increased. |
| Conclusions: | The examiners concluded that having a VRC in a MM clinic has a positive impact by increasing patient v-e activity and employment outcomes. It is also cost effective. Greater emphasis should be placed on employment and training of MM patients to improve employment outcomes. |
| Disabilities served: |
Alcohol and drug abuse |
| Populations served: |
Gender: Female and Male Race: Black / African American Race: White / Caucasian Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino |
| Interventions: |
Rehabilitation counseling Vocational rehabilitation Other |
| Outcomes: |
Employment acquisition Return to work |