Outputs

Many individuals with psychiatric disabilities face workplace challenges that motivate them to pursue self-employment, but accessible self-employment support is lacking. Using participatory action research, Reclaiming Employment (RE), an online interactive platform that provides self-employment education for people who experience mental health-related challenges around work, was developed to address these gaps. An observational pilot study of RE examined usage, usability, self-efficacy, and self-employment income of 97 participants who used RE for six months. RE users rated the platform at above average usability, although those who experienced long-term unemployment rated the platform significantly lower compared to wage or self-employed users. In longitudinal regression models, we found use of RE was significantly associated with increases in some ESE subscales and mean ESE.

A discussion on Leadership, Authenticity, and Self-Acceptance in Participatory Research between Jessica Jonikas of University of Illinois, Chicago and Laysha Ostrow.

Hosted by the Office of Recovery at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Laysha Ostrow, Ph.D. discusses some of the results from the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Career Outcomes Study, a 3-year effort to document the career outcomes of CPS. Dr. Ostrow presents on some of the findings around wages and financial wellbeing, workplace burnout, and CPS in rural areas. The presentation concludes with lessons learned and suggestions for future research and policy changes to support the peer workforce.

Live & Learn, Inc., a peer-run research organization in the United States, conducted a Phase I SBIR project to understand the program evaluation needs of CBOs, and technical specifications for Elevate, Evaluate. This report details the findings from a survey and interviews with CBO representatives from across the US. We asked 44 CBOs across 21 states about their current experiences, competencies, and needs around program evaluation, as well as their interest in using a product such as Elevate, Evaluate.

This study of over 680 certified peer specialists (CPS) in four states found that those who are unemployed are more likely to be receiving Social Security disability benefits, be veterans, use outpatient counseling or therapy, and not disclose their mental health status in the workplace. In this study, the benefits of peer support jobs, compared to non-peer support jobs, include longer job tenure, availability of employee benefits, and higher job satisfaction.

Two research companies, Live & Learn Inc. and Human Services Research Institute, worked with HOPE (Helping Our Peers Emerge) staff to conduct an evaluation to understand and report the impact of the HOPE program on participants, in addition to Whole Person Pilot-required data. HOPE is a peer-run program in San Mateo, California. HOPE supports Peer Participants in transition from psychiatric hospitalization to community integration through Peer Mentoring, Family Partnership, and Supportive Employment Coordination. It was created as a Whole Person Pilot program under California's Medicaid Section 1115 waiver.

The Guidebook for Peer Support Program Self-Evaluation: Practical Steps and Tools can be used to document program operations and outcomes, and to build evidence for the efficacy of peer support programs. In a world of limited resources, conducting evaluations can be a challenge. We created this guidebook in response to frequent requests from peer-run organizations for practical, low-cost, or no-cost tools they could use to evaluate their programs. We have included recommendations on best practices in self-evaluation and data monitoring based on techniques used by other peer support organizations and in the world of program evaluation. It provides basic, practical guidance on developing a logic model, identifying outcomes, selecting measures/ indicators, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting findings.

This research study developed a measure to look at service users’ experience of IPS. The IPSCC scale was found to address three underlying factors: Connection, Risk, and Communication. It had acceptable measurement properties commonly used in scale development, and the results fit with theories of peer support. It can also be used in research studies on other forms of peer support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Self-employed individuals with psychiatric disabilities used informal business supports more than help from institutions. Friends, family, mentors, online resources, and other business owners were most frequently a source of support and were rated most helpful. Institutional supports, for example the Small Business Development Center, were less frequently used and less likely to be considered helpful. Entrepreneurs with psychiatric disabilities may benefit from supports specific to their needs and preferences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)