title: Moving ahead: evaluation of a work-skills training program for homeless adults.
abstract: This study examines the impact of a work-skills program grounded in an integrated services approach on both employment and related life domains among homeless individuals. Six hundred thirty-eight participants in a 14-week work-skills program at a large day center in New England completed assessments at intake between 1999 and 2007; a subsample of 333 also completed assessments at graduation from the program; a smaller subsample of 55 participants were re-assessed 6 months after graduation. These assessments measured work and related life skills, employment, housing status, general health status, substance use, self-esteem and self-efficacy, and legal involvement. Results revealed improvement in all types of work and related life skills, employment and income, and multiple other life domains from baseline to graduation and follow-up. Exploratory analyses suggested that improvements in work and related life skills were associated with improvement in self-esteem and self-efficacy, and that these improvements predicted stable housing situations at follow-up. Overall, these findings indicate that, for individuals struggling with the challenges of homelessness, completion of a work-skills program has a positive impact on skills and employment, and on a diverse set of life domains.
authors.affiliation: Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance, Medford, MA 01060, USA. snelson@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Ingrid R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Maurice
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shaffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation