The New York WORKS project represents one of the Social Security Administration's State Partnership Initiatives (SPI). In 1998 the Social Security Administration (SSA) began a five year investment to initiate systems change in order to increase the employment rate of individuals with disabilities. SSA's interest was specific to the population that participates in two of their programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Systems change was primarily defined as changing public policy to encourage or provide incentives to individuals with disability to enter or re-enter the work force.
Cross disability key stakeholders were involved in an intensive 6 month planning period that determined the major interventions of the New York WORKS project. New York WORKS represents a consortium of cross disability state, federal, and local government agencies as well as mental health service providers, consumers, mental health advocacy agencies and employers.
New York WORKS, a research demonstration project, targets individuals with psychiatric disabilities who are SSI recipients and live in one of 6 counties in New York State. This project randomly selects SSI recipients from the SSI rolls and randomly assigns them to one of three conditions: full service, enhanced service and control group. Employment outcomes are obtained through the NYS Department of Labor wage and employment records to determine the effectiveness of policy change and service interventions. Employment data show low rates of employment (6%) with average annual wages of approximately $7,000. Effectiveness of NY WORKS policy changes and services will be discussed.
See spiconnect.orgLearning Objectives: 1. Develop an understanding of problems with conflicting public policy in relation to employment of people with psychiatric disabilities 2. Describe the major interventions of the NY WORKS project 3. Assess the effectiveness of the employment interventions
Keywords: Disability Policy, Sever Mental Illness
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: New York State Department of Labor
Social Security Administration
New York WORKS
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.