The Relationship between Substance Use Disorders and Unsuccessful Case Closures in Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hollar

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services can be challenging for certain persons with disabilities, particularly persons with mental illness, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and substance use disorders (SUD). This study focused on successful (status 26) and unsuccessful (status 28) closures contained in the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Programs (LSVRSP). Individuals with ADHD, mental illness, physical disabilities, SUD, and learning disabilities had the lowest successful closure rates (43.2%, 45.5%, 50.6%, 51.3%, and 51.4%, respectively). Consumers reported a need for additional services, lack of job availability, family problems, discrimination, and transportation issues as leading reasons for unsuccessful closure. The results indicate a need for more comprehensive services directed towards persons with behavioral disabilities.

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hollar ◽  
Mary McAweeney ◽  
Dennis Moore

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services can be challenging for certain persons with disabilities, particularly persons with mental illness, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and substance use disorders (SUD). This study focused on successful (status 26) and unsuccessful (status 28) closures contained in the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Programs (LSVRSP). Individuals with ADHD, mental illness, physical disabilities, SUD, and learning disabilities had the lowest successful closure rates (43.2%, 45.5%, 50.6%, 51.3%, and 51. 4%, respectively). Consumers reported a need for additional services, lack of job availability, family problems, discrimination, and transportation issues as leading reasons for unsuccessful closure. The results indicate a need for more comprehensive services directed towards persons with behavioral disabilities.


Author(s):  
Olayemi A. Akinola ◽  
Euchay Ngozi Horsman ◽  
Lisa Dunkley

Abstract Youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders are at higher risk for vocational rehabilitation exclusion. This study aimed to (a) explore the personal factors associated with vocational outcomes of youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders and (b) highlight services that have shown the greatest promise for this population in the state-federal rehabilitation program in the United States. Our analytic sample was extracted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Case Service Report data set for 2013, 2014, and 2015 fiscal years. Multiple regression analyses results identified personal factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, level of education, and severity of disability as predictors of the achievement of competitive employment, hours worked, and income. The receipt of vocational rehabilitation services such as job search support, job placement assistance, vocational training, and on-the-job support are significantly associated with the achievement of competitive employment, higher work hours, and income. These finding have implications for vocational rehabilitation practice as they highlight who is at higher risk for poor outcomes, effective services, and additional factors to consider when working with youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders.


1981 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Gerber

Historically, learning disabled (LD) individuals have been excluded from vocational rehabilitation services because of eligibility criteria that did not recognize learning disabilities as a mental or physical disability. Several significant events including the recognition of learning disabilities by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual III of the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, and the California Department of Rehabilitation created an atmosphere of acceptance in the rehabilitation community. After initial efforts to maintain the traditional posture towards learning disabilities in the rewriting of the Rehabilitation Comprehensive Services and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978 (PL 95–602), the Rehabilitation Services Administration yielded to a new conceptualization which will now allow the severely learning disabled (SLD) access to rehabilitation services.


1996 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lisa Brown ◽  
Kathleen M. Saura

Individuals who have a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and chronic mental illness pose unique challenges in the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services. Barriers to service provision include an underestimation of prevalence; agency classifications that require a separation of disability conditions into primary and secondary disability; a lack of counselors’ awareness of the unique needs of this population; and the impact of negative attitudes and stigma on vocational success. Although individuals with dual diagnosis can benefit from rehabilitation services and stable employment, changes in the traditional service delivery system are recommended. To address the unique needs of this population, rehabilitation practitioners are encouraged to seek specialized training and continuing education through regional training programs and interagency consultation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-258
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Lusk ◽  
Lynn C. Koch ◽  
Teresia M. Paul

Purpose:In this article, we examined how individuals with co-occurring psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders encounter numerous challenges when it comes to the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process.Method:A comprehensive review of the literature demonstrated barriers to service delivery (e.g., access to services, exclusionary eligibility requirements) and hindrances to VR planning (e.g., lack of training of VR counselors, lack of work-related skills) which all serve to create obstacles through which they must navigate. This article provides a brief overview of (a) the challenges that these individuals face in treatment and VR and (b) general considerations for providing more recovery-oriented VR services to increase their participation in the VR process, facilitate recovery, and improve VR outcomes.Results:Our review highlighted that VR participation and successful outcome rates among this group as a whole are much lower than the rates of those with other types of disabilities. Researchers have suggested a myriad of strategies that have proven advantageous when working with these individuals all of which serve to increase rates of sustained recovery and employment success.Conclusion:Additional research is still needed to substantiate the barriers to service delivery for this underserved VR population, evaluate how to implement more recovery-oriented practices within the VR system, and determine if such changes do indeed lead to improved outcomes for consumers with co-occurring disabilities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
C. Lauber

The only study in Europe that compared traditional vocational rehabilitation with Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in people with psychotic and bipolar disorders clearly showed that IPS is more effective. Based on these data, this paper will review the current situation of vocational rehabilitation in Europe and analyse whether these or other research do influence the daily practice in vocational rehabilitation. Moreover, it will summarise potential for further development of Supported Employment in people with severe mental illness.


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