Employment outcomes among AFDC recipients treated for substance abuse in Washington State | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Wong, K. K., Chiu, L. P., Tang, S. W., Kan, H. K., Kong, C. L., Chu, H. W., & Chiu, S. N.
Year Published	2000
Publication	Milbank Quarterly
Volume	78
Number	4
Pages	585-608
Publisher	The Milbank Memorial Fund
Background	The scope of substance abuse problems within the welfare population is unclear. The prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse appears to vary among welfare populations. Studies are inconsistent in regards to the impact substance abuse treatment has on employment outcomes.
Purpose	The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of substance abuse treatment on employment outcomes among AFDC recipients admitted to treatment in Washington State during a two-year period beginning July 1994.
Setting	The setting included state supported substance treatment facilities.
Sample	The study sample was made up of 5,038 AFDC clients.
Data Collection	Three state computer databases provided data for analysis. The client treatment database provided information on client characteristics and treatment activities. Computer records from the Employment Security Department provided employment data and earning information. The Economic Services Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services provided welfare payment data.
Control	The comparison was no treatment for substance abuse.
Findings	The study showed that substance abuse treatment was associated with increased employment and earnings. Relative to the comparison groups, AFDC clients in the treatment groups were more likely to become employed following treatment.
Conclusions	Treatment appeared to enhance employment and earnings among AFDC clients, the level of earnings achieved remained modest with 42% of clients having no earned income in the two-year follow up period and an additional 14% having less than $1000 of earned income. This may indicate that the goals of employment and self-sufficiency underpinning TANF may be achievable for only a small minority of welfare recipients with addiction and substance abuse problems, unless ancillary vocational services are provided along with treatment.
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2751174/
Disabilities
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition \| Wages
NIDILRR Funded	No
Research Design	Observational, Quasi-experimental
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2000

Publication

Milbank Quarterly

Volume

78

Number

4

Pages

585-608

Publisher

The Milbank Memorial Fund

Background

The scope of substance abuse problems within the welfare population is unclear. The prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse appears to vary among welfare populations. Studies are inconsistent in regards to the impact substance abuse treatment has on employment outcomes.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of substance abuse treatment on employment outcomes among AFDC recipients admitted to treatment in Washington State during a two-year period beginning July 1994.

Setting

The setting included state supported substance treatment facilities.

Sample

The study sample was made up of 5,038 AFDC clients.

Data Collection

Three state computer databases provided data for analysis. The client treatment database provided information on client characteristics and treatment activities. Computer records from the Employment Security Department provided employment data and earning information. The Economic Services Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services provided welfare payment data.

Control

The comparison was no treatment for substance abuse.

Findings

The study showed that substance abuse treatment was associated with increased employment and earnings. Relative to the comparison groups, AFDC clients in the treatment groups were more likely to become employed following treatment.

Conclusions

Treatment appeared to enhance employment and earnings among AFDC clients, the level of earnings achieved remained modest with 42% of clients having no earned income in the two-year follow up period and an additional 14% having less than $1000 of earned income. This may indicate that the goals of employment and self-sufficiency underpinning TANF may be achievable for only a small minority of welfare recipients with addiction and substance abuse problems, unless ancillary vocational services are provided along with treatment.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2751174/

Disabilities

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition | Wages

NIDILRR Funded

No

Research Design

Observational, Quasi-experimental

Peer Reviewed

Yes