APPAM 2020 Fall Research Conference: Roundtable -The Potential of Employment Services to Improve the Well-Being of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
Washington, District of Columbia
Thursday, November 12, 2020 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Virtual
The United States is experiencing a crisis in addressing the wide ranging and growing needs of persons with substance abuse disorder (SUD), driven by both the opioid epidemic as well as the ongoing abuse of other drugs and alcohol. Employment has been shown to play an important role in recovery and preventing relapse. Employment can be a motivator for entering and adhering to treatment and can result in better treatment outcomes, including completion and duration of treatment, as well as decreases in relapse after treatment. However, while employment can help those with addiction stay on the path to recovery, many with SUD struggle to find and maintain jobs. Those in treatment and recovery often face significant barriers to employment including criminal history, co-occurring mental illnesses, inconsistent employment history, and treatment program requirements that make it difficult to adhere to work schedules. While much attention has been given to developing and implementing effective prevention and treatment efforts for SUD, there has been a growing focus, including increased federal funding, for programs that address both treatment and employment outcomes. While research in this area is limited, and many studies not of high quality, there are indications the approach can be effective. Beyond integrating service provision, common features of models that have shown signs of promise include intensive interventions that are “high touch,” and interventions that are delivered by trained staff with specific knowledge and skills. In the past, programs combining these services have been limited due to a range of factors including siloed funding, limited funding, and lack of staff of expertise in treatment programs. Programs in this area are now growing given newly available funding, but many operate at small scale. During the roundtable discussion, we will explore some of these issues and also address important unanswered for future research questions including appropriate settings and service delivery systems for programs, type of employment services, and appropriate targeting. A critical question is the potential of the workforce system and other traditional employment providers to support individuals with opioid use or substance use disorders. We also consider the implications of COVID for the provision of services. Roundtable participants include leaders of ongoing evaluations funded by the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are examining the implementation and impact of programs that integrate treatment and employment services. In addition, the panel will include DOL’s Senior Policy Advisor for Workforce Health Initiatives whose role includes coordinating DOL’s response to the opioid crisis and an occupational health physician who studies the challenges facing individuals with opioid use disorder. If the APPAM meeting occurs virtually, we will use that opportunity to include a practitioner who would not be able to travel to DC for the conference.
Abt Associates
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