reSearch vol. 2, Issue 1.pmd

Supported employment programs known to follow the principles of evidence-based supported employment provided detailed information on program costs, use, and staffing. Program fidelity was assessed using the Supported Employment Fidelity Scale. Cost and utilization data were analyzed in a comparable manner across sites to yield direct and total costs per client served, per full-year-equivalent client, and per employment specialist. Usable data were obtained from seven programs in seven states: Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. All programs received high fidelity ratings, ranging from 70 to the maximum value of 75. Annual direct costs per client served varied from $860 in New Hampshire to $2,723 in Oregon, and direct costs per full-year-equivalent client varied from $1,423 in Massachusetts to $6,793 in Indiana. Direct costs per employment specialist did not show as much variation, ranging from $37,339 in Rhode Island to $49,603 in Massachusetts, with a mean of $44,082. Differences in cost per client arose in part from differences in rules for determining who is or is not considered to on a program’s caseload. By assuming a typical caseload of about 18 clients, it was estimated that the cost per fullyear-equivalent client averaged $2,449 per year, ranging from $2,074 to $2,756. Smits, Stanley J. (2004). Disability and employment in the USA: The quest for best practices. Disability & Society, 19(6), 647-662. NARIC Accession Number: J48445 ABSTRACT: This paper documents the progress to date in the development of infrastructure and services supporting the employment of people with disabilities. It presents the results of a study of best practices found in state vocational rehabilitation agencies and One-Stop centers. Several unresolved issues are discussed and the paper concludes by urging greater involvement by people with disabilities to help resolve existing issues and improve services by identifying and promoting the adoption of best practices. Surdick, Renee S., Pierson, April, Menz, Frederick E., Hagen-Foley, Debra L., & Ussif, Al-Amin. (2004). Rehabilitation industry benchmarks and new approaches for the future. NARIC Accession Number: O16395 ABSTRACT: Article presents findings from research conducted at 64 community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) serving people with disabilities. This data is presented as evidence-based industry benchmarks and provides essential information about the populations served, rehabilitation service processes used, and employment outcomes achieve. Suggestions are offered for applying these benchmarks to organizational effectiveness and examples are provided of approaches used by CRPs across the country.