An analysis of evidence-based best practices in the public vocational rehabilitation program: Gaps, future directions, and recommended steps to move forward
Authors: | Leff, S., Cook, J., Gold, P. l., Toprac, M., Blyler, D., Goldberg, R., McFarlane, W., Shafer, M., Allen, E., Allen, E., Camacho-Gonsalves, T., & Rabb, B. |
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Year Published | 2014 |
Publication | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 41 |
Number | 1 |
Pages | 147-163 |
Publisher | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Background |
People with disabilities face high rates of unemployment and underemployment. The rate is about double (12.9%) for individuals with disabilities versus (6.1%) rate for people without disabilities. This is true, despite the fact that billions of dollars have been spent by the state-federal vocational rehabilitation program to combat the problem. The vocational rehabilitation program needs to find ways to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The evidence based practice movement has started to influence rehabilitation counseling practices. Using research to inform best practices should help those charged with improving the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services and outcomes. Identifying promising practices and gaps in the evidence based practice research will lead to recommendations for future research and knowledge translation efforts to improve vocational rehabilitation service delivery practices. |
Purpose |
The purpose of the review was to identify emerging and promising vocational rehabilitation service delivery practices that can improve work outcomes for people with disabilities. |
Setting |
This is a systematic review. The studies included were undertaken in various locations and settings. |
Sample |
As a systematic review, this study included studies with various populations of vocational rehabilitation clients. |
Data Collection |
As a systematic review, this study included studies with a variety of data collection methods. |
Control |
This is a systematic review. The review had no control or comparison conditions. |
Findings |
Rehabilitation counselors in state vocational rehabilitation agencies use some services that are supported by strong scientific evidence. These include: counseling, skills training, and supported employment. Several researchers have also investigated the overall effect of state vocational rehabilitation services. The research team reviewed, analyzed and discussed the findings from this and other studies to identify gaps in research and make recommendations about future directions. |
Conclusions |
Most of the work in vocational rehabilitation for the past 50 years has been descriptive in nature. Future research should be aimed at identifying evidenced based practices. More intervention studies are needed about employment and other related outcomes of rehabilitation. More replication and extensions of prior research are needed to build on what is known and inform policies and practices. |
URL | http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabilitation/jvr707 |
Disabilities | |
Populations | |
Outcomes | Other |
NIDILRR Funded | Yes |
Research Design | Systematic reviews and meta-analysis |
Peer Reviewed | Yes |