FAMILY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS TRAINING ( - PowerPoint Presentation

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FAMILY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS TRAINING (FEAT)

RESEARCH STUDY

FEAT is a knowledge-based training program designed to increase expectations for competitive employment and knowledge of employment-related services and supports among people with disabilities, families, and professionals.

1. Expectationsa. Six-question scale assessing attitudes for competitive employment for individuals with disabilitiesb. Four-question section assessing attitudes for competitive employment for individuals requiring various levels of on-the-job support 2. KnowledgeSix-question scale assessing perception of knowledge about employment resources3. Employmenta. Checklist of employment development activitiesb. Checklist of employment outcomes4. BarriersChecklist of barriers believed to impact employment 5. Resources Accessed and UsedChecklist of local and federal employment resources 6. Perceptions of FEATTen Likert scale questions assessing participants perceptions of FEAT on their expectations, knowledge, resource use, employment, and barriersData Analyses For this poster presentation, we are only reporting on the survey data analyses related to the employment related constructs measured and participants’ perceptions of FEAT.Mann-Whitney testAnalyze employment resources usedANCOVA – repeated measuresAnalyze Expectations and Knowledge ScalesChi-squaredEmployment outcomesFrequenciesAnalyze barriers, resources, perceptions of FEAT

Constructs Measured

DISCUSSION

Expectations for employment improved significantly in the short-term; though they did not maintain that significance at the 1-year mark.Improvements in knowledge are always significant and sustained over time.Perceptions of barriersAttendees – half are systemic and half are person-specificNon-attendees – all but one are person-specificEmployment outcomesLimited sample size in 1-year analysisAge of child in 1-year sample: 17 out of 19 attendees were <22 yrs.23 out of 25 non-attendees were <22 yrs.Short-term Perceptions of FEATOverall, positive perceptions Professional data (34/65 total attendee surveys) not yet analyzed Repeat FEAT attendees (12/31 total family attendee surveys) data not yet analyzed

CONTACT INFORMATION

Grace L. Francisgfranci4@gmu.edu Judith M.S. Grossgross@ku.edu

NIDILRR AwardIn 2013, we received a NIDILRR-Field Initiated research grant award (DED0069557/NIH0075431) to conduct a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods assessment of the impact of FEAT to determine its effectiveness in changing perceptions and promoting competitive employment.Participants RecruitmentSurveys: Recruited directly through schools, indirectly through the local Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center, and as attending participants at FEAT trainings.Interviews: Pre-survey completers were asked on the survey if they were interested in volunteering for interviews. Interviewees were selected from this sample.SampleOnly family survey data was used in this analysis. Matched samples of attendees and non-attendees were analyzed, and previous FEAT attendees were removed from analysis.Quasi-experimental DesignSurveys: Community Employment Survey was sent via schools to all transition-age young adults in the region 1-2 months prior to bringing a FEAT training to the region. Interviews: Interviews were conducted with 12 Hispanic families from rural Kansas – 8 attendees and 4 non-attendees

FEAT attendeesNon-attendeesSurveyed prior to training attendanceSurveyed at same point as attendees – preSurveyed up to one month following attendance Surveyed 12 months following attendance Surveyed 12 months post 

Short-termOne-yearExpectationsp= .0022p= 0.0919Knowledgep= <.0001p= <.0001

One-Year Employment Outcomes

No significant difference between attendees and non-attendees.

FINDINGS

FEAT

Format and

Content

We used the Community Employment Survey (Francis & Gross, 2012) to assess the expectations, knowledge, employment outcomes, barriers experienced, resources accessed/used, and perceptions of

FEAT

(attendees only) of both

FEAT

attendees and non-attendees across Kansas.

We conducted interviews at three points in time, interviewing 12 Hispanic families at 6 months after the pre-survey, 7 of those families again at 12 months after the pre-survey, and 4 of those same families again at 18 months after the pre-survey.

FEAT

is a two-part training program that takes place over 2 days and includes lecture, action-orientated

activities, breakout sessions for the young adults with disabilities, and afternoon breakout sessions with local entrepreneurs, employers, employees with disabilities, and service providers who present information to and dialogue with participants

.

FEAT

training topics are diverse, covering extensive information (see table below).

Grace L. Francis, PhD

George

Mason University

Judith

M.S.

Gross, PhD

University of Kansas

Assessing the

effectiveness

of Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT): A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study

FEAT attendees

Non-attendees

Surveyed prior to training attendanceSurveyed at same point as attendeesSurveyed one month following FEAT attendance Surveyed 12 months following pre-survey completionSurveyed 12 months following pre-survey completion

&

Topics

Sub-topicsSupported and customized competitive employment optionsCarved jobsCreated jobsResource ownershipSelf-employmentBusiness within a businessEmployer-initiated modelsFamily role in supporting employmentBuilding a support networkContributing to the employment processCreating parent-professional partnershipsTransition to adulthoodHealthcareWorkPost-secondary EducationSupport resourcesEmployee resources - assistive technology, natural supports, job coaches, benefits specialistEmployer resources - local and national organizations providing services and supports to employers of persons with disabilitiesEmployment services and supportsVocational Rehabilitation (VR) Ticket to WorkCareer one-stop/Workforce centers Kansas Medicaid (i.e., waivers and buy-in programs)Community rehabilitation providersTransportation Work incentives (e.g., PASS, IRWE, 1619b)Funding and informationKansas Council on Developmental DisabilitiesSmall Business Administration (i.e., development centers, SCORE, women’s business centers)CASH Program (Individual Development Account)Kansas Disability Service MapsABLE ActAntidiscrimination policyFederal (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504)State (i.e., Employment First policy, Kansas Act Against Discrimination)

Data Collection

FEAT positively influenced /improved . . .AgreedStrongly agreed… my expectations for the employment of individuals with disabilities46.1%34.3%… my accessing more resources38.2%16.7%... my knowledge about employment resources40.2%52%… the way I seek out and use employment resources54.4%24.3%…my feeling that I can overcome barriers50%21.4%… the way I address barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities 59.6%27.3%

Short-term Perceptions of FEAT

Top 5 Resources Accessed/Used at One-year

Top 5 Barriers Perceived/Experienced at One-year

FEAT AttendeesNon-attendeesCase Manager (31.6%)Case Manager (44%)Community Developmental Disability Organization (31.6%)Community Developmental Disability Organization (36%)Vocational Rehabilitation (31.6%)None (24%)Benefits Specialist (20%)Vocational Rehabilitation (20%)Kansas Workforce Centers (20%)Benefits Specialist (20%)

Expectations and Knowledge

FEAT AttendeesNon-attendeesSeverity of disability or intensity of needs (47.4%)Severity of disability or intensity of needs (56%)Limited funding for employment services (42.1%)Poor social skills (44%)Lack of supported employment service providers and job coaches (42.1%)Need for extensive or ongoing supports at work (44%)Poor social skills (31.6%)Lack of employer flexibility (28%)Poor collaboration among schools, professionals, and families (31.6%)Lack of education, training, or work experience (28%)Need for extensive or ongoing supports at work (31.6%)--