Evidence-based Practices #3 and #4

Competitive Employment is the goal.

• Agencies devote resources to supported employment services rather than to day treatment or sheltered work.

Rapid Job Search is used.

• The service agency avoids lengthy pre-employment activities.
  

Transcript

The third evidence-based principle is that supported employment programs devote their resources and energy to assisting consumers in finding competitive jobs. This is in contrast to programs that seek to develop an array of rehabilitation activities, such as day treatment programs, or protected job options, such as sheltered workshops or agency-run businesses. The research is clear that these activities do not promote competitive employment. Consumers may spend years in day treatment, including consumers who could work. The evidence for this is that when day treatment programs are closed down and converted to supported employment, consumers who have been regular attenders of day treatment typically do well in competitive jobs.

The fourth evidence-based principle is that supported employment programs assist consumers in looking for jobs soon after they enroll in the supported employment program. Contrary to conventional wisdom, there are no advantages to prevocational preparation, extended career counseling, or other work readiness activities. Consumer surveys have consistently indicated that most consumers prefer to work toward community jobs instead of preparatory activity. Moreover, studies show that the preparatory activity reduces their long-term prospects for community employment.

Rapid job search means that employment specialists have an expectation that the job search typically will begin with a contact with an employer within the first month after a consumer enters the supported employment program. However, the job search process is individualized, which means that it will vary in strategy and timing.