Evaluating Choose to Work Utah

2004

Choose to Work Utah is one of a national network of projects funded by Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and focused on helping people with disabilities to gain employment. After five years of implementation, RSA posed a series of questions about the effectiveness of the projects and asked states to conduct evaluation activities to address the questions. The project was awarded to Utah's State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR), which requested help from the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) in conducting the evaluation. CPD Outreach Division staff collaborated with Life-Skills and Individual Needs Center (LINC), a rehabilitation services provider, to conduct the evaluation. Eight evaluation activities were conducted to collect the necessary data, and a final report describing the impact of the project was written and submitted to USOR in March 2004. During the November 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004 period, project staff completed a number of activities. They met with key players from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Division of Workforce Services (DWS) to collect background information on the Choose to Work project and drafted a summary report. Background documents were reviewed and a report describing the need for the project drafted. Data on client characteristics and progress through the program were obtained from Virginia Commonwealth University and a preliminary report drafted. Project staff met with USOR to discuss variation in project activities and outcomes across various regions of the state. Project staff also conducted a series of focus groups with employment specialists working for the project and clients served by the project. Further, project staff met with DWS staff to discuss data that could be gleaned from their database that would describe (1) differences in outcomes for Choose to Work clients vs. other people with disabilities served by DWS and (2) differences in outcomes for Choose to Work clients served in different regions of the state. State directors of VR and DWS along with Utah Health Department personnel were interviewed about the project's impact on the state and plans for continued cooperation after the grant period. Data from all sources were synthesized into a comprehensive draft report that addressed each of the evaluation questions posed by RSA. The report was reviewed with VR and DWS staff and revised based on their feedback. A final report was submitted to USOR in March 2004.

Disabilities, Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation

Performing Research or Evaluation

Quality Assurance, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Cultural Diversity

Professionals and Para-Professionals, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups

State, National

N/A