Ipsen, C.; Kurth, N.; McCormick, S.; Hall, J.; & Chambless, C. (2019). Engaging SSI youth and families with ASPIRE services. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 51 (2), 211-224.

Engaging SSI youth and families with ASPIRE services

Ipsen, C.; Kurth, N.; McCormick, S.; Hall, J.; & Chambless, C.

2019

Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation

IOS Press

https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-191039

https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...   

Yes

Not reported

Youth with disabilities receiving SSI experience economic disparities across the lifespan. PROMISE demonstrations strived to overcome these disparities by offering an array of services to improve long-term economic outcomes. Unfortunately, people living at or near poverty often focus energies on meeting basic needs rather than engaging in future-oriented activities.

This paper explores engagement with PROMISE services at one demonstration site (called ASPIRE) as a predictor of intermediary employment outcomes.

Study 1 uses youth survey data at enrollment and 36-months to compare intermediary outcomes between ASPIRE control and intervention youth (n?=?1241). Study 2 uses participation data from case management records to construct a logistic regression to explore predictors of employment for ASPIRE intervention youth. Study 3 uses case management records about training participation to explore impacts of various ASPIRE engagement strategies.

Study 1. There were few differences between intervention and control group participants in terms of self-determination, expectations, employment, and education 36-months after enrollment. Study 2. Intervention youth receiving higher rates of face-to-face case-management services (OR?=?1.181) and career exploration activities in year 2 (OR?=?1.516) and year 1 (OR?=?1.426) become employed at higher rates in year 3, relative to those receiving fewer services. Study 3. Engagement with ASPIRE services was low across the project. A large incentive in the final 7-months of the project resulted in an exponential increase in financial literacy training participation.

Future demonstrations focused on SSI youth with disabilities should utilize incentives early in the project to promote engagement with case-management services and future-oriented training and activities.

Multiple disabilities

Transition-age youth (14 - 24)
SSI and SSDI recipients

Training and technical assistance
Vocational rehabilitation
Transition services

Employment acquisition
Full-time employment