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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Valerie Melburg, PhD, NY WORKS, NYS Dept of Labor, New York WORKS, NYS CAmpus, Bldg 12 , Rm 266, Albany, NY 12240, 518 485-2584, ndbvm1@labor.state.ny.us
New York WORKS is a systems change initiative to increase the employment rate of SSI recipients with psychiatric disabilities. Key stakeholders of the disability community designed the project to address two barriers to employment for SSI recipients: (1) lack of understanding about how working affects their receipt of multiple public benefits, and (2) need for help with job search and maintenance. The research project is conducted by the NYS Department of Labor in Buffalo and NYC. Beginning in September 2000, over 30,000 SSI recipients with a primary diagnosis of mental illness were mailed invitations to participate. Interested people were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups: Full service (receive benefits counseling and employment coordination), Enhanced service (receive benefits counseling) and Control (receive no intervention). The two treatment groups also have access to waivers that allow them to keep more of their earnings when working. Participation rates, employment and wages, and effectiveness of the interventions such as benefits advisement, employment coordination and SSI waivers will be discussed. Individuals with work histories were significantly more likely to enter the project than those who did not have a work history. Psychiatric diagnosis was not related to employment outcomes; however, significantly more individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were interested and enrolled into the project than any other diagnostic category. Utilization of SSA and housing-related work incentives will be presented. Implementation issues and remaining systemic barriers to employment will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Participants will
Keywords: Disability Policy, Federal Initiatives
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: New York Works Project - State Partnership Initiative
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Research Director, NY Works - Cooperative Agreement with SSA