Impact Findings from the BEES’ Studies of IPS for Adults with Behavioral Health Diagnoses

• In Event: Employment Strategies for People Facing Complex Barriers: Evidence from Multiple Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Building on the previous presentation’s description of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), this presentation will present impact findings for studies of IPS for (1) adults with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) who are receiving SUD treatment or recovery services and (2) behavioral health clients of federally qualified health centers (FQHC). As part of the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) Project, funded by the Administration for Children and Families, these studies were designed to examine whether IPS improves the economic outcomes for groups of adults with these behavioral health diagnoses using a randomized controlled trial. Each study tests the IPS program model across three different locations in the United States. Eligible and consenting applicants were randomly assigned to either a) a program group that offered the IPS services or b) a comparison group that was not offered these IPS services but could receive other available employment services in the community. The impact analyses use data from a national source on employment and earnings and a follow-up participant survey. A mixed methods implementation study, incorporating the perspectives of staff and participants, and an analysis of program costs round out the paper.

To provide context for the results of the impact analysis, the presentation will briefly describe the SUD and FQHC provider settings, characteristics of those in the study, and the implementation of IPS in these settings. Implementation themes emerge around how the IPS model needed to be adapted to serve these populations and in these distinct settings. The impact analysis focuses on the following research question: Does IPS improve employment and other key outcomes over a 15-month period following enrollment?  

The presentation will end with a brief discussion of how these studies add to the literature around the IPS program model and discuss other forthcoming analyses and publications from the BEES Project.

Author

• Megan Millenky, MDRC
  Presenting Author