NCJ Number
19339
Date Published
1974
Length
54 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION RESULTS FOR THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF OPERATION FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES SUPERVISED EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO EX-DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTS.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE SUPPORTED WORK PROGRAM (SWP) ARE TO INCREASE EX-ADDICT REHABILITATION THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF EX-ADDICT UNEMPLOYMENT, TO EMPLOY 88 EX-ADDICTS BY THE END OF THE PROGRAM YEAR, TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, TO REDUCE POST-RELEASE DRUG OR CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS, AND TO PLACE 80 PERCENT OF THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INTO REGULAR EMPLOYMENT. THE PROJECT HAS THREE MAJOR WORK UNITS - ELECTRONICS, DEMOLITION, AND MAINTENANCE. PROGRAM CLIENTS ARE REFERRED BY DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE THREE WORK UNITS. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTED OF INTERVIEWS WITH SWP STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AND CONTRACTORS, OBSERVATION OF SWP OPERATIONS, AND AN INTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYEE (EXADDICT) CHARACTERISTICS RELATIVE TO EMPLOYEE SUCCESS IN THE PROGRAM. A CONTINUING PROBLEM WAS NOTED IN SECURING COMPETENT SUPERVISION FOR THE DEMOLITION CREW. PROBLEMS IN PROJECT RECORD-KEEPING AND MANAGEMENT WEAKNESSES WERE ALSO NOTED. SOME INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE ABILITY TO ASSUME JOB RESPONSIBILITY WAS FOUND. HOWEVER, A MAJOR PROBLEM IN EMPLOYEE RETENTION WAS DISCOVERED, SINCE 60 PERCENT OF THE PERSONS EMPLOYED IN SWP WERE TERMINATED FROM THE PROGRAM. IN SPITE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION DURING THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS, THE EVALUATORS STATE THAT THE PROGRAM SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR FILLING A GAP IN THE DRUG ADDICT AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT-REHABILITATION SYSTEM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FUNDING BE CONTINUED AND THAT THE PRESENT FUNDING LEVEL BE INCREASED.