The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45703

Lori Young, LSW, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Temple University, 260 South Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215/923-0218, Lori@phmc.org and Leslie Hurtig, MPA, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, New York University, 260 South Broad Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

In July 1999, The Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a non-profit organization that operates five substance abuse treatment programs, received funding to implement and evaluate an integrated job training component at two intensive outpatient programs (IOP). The program, called SUCCESS (Strengthening Urban Communities to Create Economic Self Sufficiency) was designed to meet the needs of chemically dependent women receiving public assistance, many of whom have histories of mental illness, trauma, homelessness, poor school performance, and limited work experience. The program integrated the expertise of two providers: PHMC and the Metropolitan Career Center (MCC), a local job-training agency. To ensure effective integration, the program design included training in substance abuse and mental illness for job training staff, a comprehensive inter-agency communication plan, intensive case management, and job placement. At the end of year one, 73% of the original 33 participants (24 clients) had completed the program, and 79% of program graduates (19) had obtained full-time jobs as administrative assistants, medical billing clerks, tele-marketers, housekeepers, and food service assistants. The average annual salary was $16,000 with benefits. The authors of this case study discuss several barriers to success as well as strategies to address them.

Learning Objectives: The learning objectives of the proposed case study are

• to increase attendees understanding of the barriers to employment for chemically dependent women receiving public assistance
• to increase attendees awareness of strategies to address barriers to employment for this hard-to-serve population
• to increase attendess awareness of the impact of job training and employment on the recovery process
• to increase attendees awareness of strategies to help women balance the demands of employment and recovery

Keywords: Women,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.