The Influence of State-Level Contextual Factors on State/Federal System Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes for Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a preliminary understanding of the influence of state-level contextual factors predictive of employment outcomes for State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation System (State VR) participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were 5,213 individuals with TBI with Individualized Plans for Employment closed during Federal Fiscal Year 2016. A four-step hierarchical logistic regression model (5.6% explained variance) containing five demographic, three state-level economic, six state TBI service climate, and nine State VR service variable expenditures correctly classified 57.0% of cases as attaining or not attaining an employment outcome at closure. Significant predictors associated with an employment closure were (a) education, veteran status, and presence of a secondary area of disability impairment; (b) state-level per-capita income; (c) State VR specialized acquired brain injury (ABI)/TBI service and state TBI Implementation Partnership grant funding; and (d) State VR service expenditures on diagnosis and treatment, occupational or vocational training, on-the-job training, job readiness training, transportation, maintenance support, and benefits counseling. The practice, policy, and research implications of these findings are presented.

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State-level differences in public vocational rehabilitation closures among transition-aged youth with traumatic brain injury

Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling ◽

10.1017/jrc.2020.18 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 136-142

Author(s):

Charles Edmund Degeneffe ◽

Mark Tucker ◽

Zaccheus James Ahonle

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation ◽

Population Size ◽

Unemployment Rate ◽

Capita Income ◽

State Level ◽

Fiscal Year ◽

Per Capita Income ◽

Per Capita

AbstractThis study aimed to understand state-level variation in participation in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (State VR) System in the United States among transition-aged youth (persons under the age of 22 years at application for State VR services) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Federal Fiscal Year 2016. A weighted least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship of state-level population size, unemployment rate, and per-capita income to the number of State VR closures in each state for transition-aged youth with TBI. Population size and per-capita income significantly predicted closures, while there was no relationship between closures and unemployment rate. Research is needed that further explores and explains state-level disparities in participation among transition-aged youth with TBI.

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Service patterns related to successful employment outcomes of persons with traumatic brain injury in vocational rehabilitation

Neurorehabilitation ◽

10.3233/nre-2006-21403 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 279-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Denise Catalano ◽

Ana Paula Pereira ◽

Ming-Yi Wu ◽

Hanson Ho ◽

Fong Chan

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation ◽

Employment Outcomes ◽

Service Patterns ◽

Successful Employment

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State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation in Traumatic Brain Injury: What Predictors Are Associated With Employment Outcomes?

Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0034355219864684 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 143-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zaccheus J. Ahonle ◽

Marcia Barnes ◽

Sergio Romero ◽

Audrey M. Sorrells ◽

Gene I. Brooks

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Vocational Rehabilitation ◽

Supported Employment ◽

Employment Outcomes ◽

Job Support ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Social Security Disability ◽

Rehabilitation Personnel ◽

Need For Rehabilitation

This study identified predictors of employment for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Data from 4,923 individuals with TBI were extracted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Case Service Report (RSA-911) database. A multiple logistic regression model using demographics, disability-related variables, vocational rehabilitation (VR) service variables, and their interactions correctly classified 69.5% of the cases as successfully employed or not successfully employed. The model explained approximately 27.1% of the variance in employment outcomes. Results indicated that level of education, race/ethnicity, age at application, preemployment status, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), comorbid depression, and case expenditure were significantly associated with employment outcomes (all p ≤ .05). VR variables that showed the most significant positive effect on employment outcomes were on-the-job support, job placement, and on-the-job training. Race/ethnicity moderated the effect of college training, supported employment, transportation, and extended evaluation or work trial assessment services on employment outcomes. The findings have implications for promoting the use of those VR services that are strongly related to employment outcomes for persons with TBI. They also point to the need for rehabilitation personnel to address some of the demographic and disability-related barriers to successful employment.

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