1. FAMILY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS TRAINING (FEAT) FEAT Format and Content
Assessing the effectiveness of Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT): A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study
&
Grace L. Francis, PhD
George Mason University
Judith M.S. Gross, PhD
University of Kansas
FINDINGS
FAMILY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS TRAINING (FEAT)
RESEARCH STUDY
Constructs Measured
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.
NIDILRR Award
In 2013, we received a NIDILRR-Field Initiated research grant award (DED /NIH ) 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
Recruitment
Surveys: 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.
Sample
Only 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 Design
Surveys: 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
1. Expectations
a. Six-question scale assessing attitudes for competitive employment for individuals with disabilities
b. Four-question section assessing attitudes for competitive employment for individuals requiring various levels of on-the-job support
2. Knowledge
Six-question scale assessing perception of knowledge about employment resources
3. Employment
a. Checklist of employment development activities
b. Checklist of employment outcomes
4. Barriers
Checklist of barriers believed to impact employment
5. Resources Accessed and Used
Checklist of local and federal employment resources
6. Perceptions of FEAT
Ten Likert scale questions assessing participants perceptions of FEAT on their expectations, knowledge, resource use, employment, and barriers
Data 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 test
Analyze employment resources used
ANCOVA – repeated measures
Analyze Expectations and Knowledge Scales
Chi-squared
Employment outcomes
Frequencies
Analyze barriers, resources, perceptions of FEAT
Expectations and Knowledge
Short-term
One-year
Expectations
p= .0022 p=
Knowledge
p= <.0001
FEAT Format and Content
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).
One-Year Employment Outcomes
No significant difference between attendees and non-attendees.
DISCUSSION
Top 5 Resources Accessed/Used at One-year
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 barriers
Attendees – half are systemic and half are person-specific
Non-attendees – all but one are person-specific
Employment outcomes
Limited sample size in 1-year analysis
Age 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 FEAT
Overall, 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
FEAT Attendees
Non-attendees
Case 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%)
Topics
Sub-topics
Supported and customized competitive employment options
Carved jobs
Created jobs
Resource ownership
Self-employment
Business within a business
Employer-initiated models
Family role in supporting employment
Building a support network
Contributing to the employment process
Creating parent-professional partnerships
Transition to adulthood
Healthcare
Work
Post-secondary Education
Support resources
Employee resources - assistive technology, natural supports, job coaches, benefits specialist
Employer resources - local and national organizations providing services and supports to employers of persons with disabilities
Employment services and supports
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Ticket to Work
Career one-stop/Workforce centers
Kansas Medicaid (i.e., waivers and buy-in programs)
Community rehabilitation providers
Transportation
Work incentives (e.g., PASS, IRWE, 1619b)
Funding and information
Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities
Small Business Administration (i.e., development centers, SCORE, women’s business centers)
CASH Program (Individual Development Account)
Kansas Disability Service Maps
ABLE Act
Antidiscrimination policy
Federal (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504)
State (i.e., Employment First policy, Kansas Act Against Discrimination)
Top 5 Barriers Perceived/Experienced at One-year
FEAT Attendees
Non-attendees
Severity 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%) --
Data Collection
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.
Short-term Perceptions of FEAT
FEAT positively influenced /improved . . .
Agreed
Strongly agreed
… my expectations for the employment of individuals with disabilities
46.1%
34.3%
… my accessing more resources
38.2%
16.7%
... my knowledge about employment resources
40.2%
52%
… the way I seek out and use employment resources
54.4%
24.3%
…my feeling that I can overcome barriers
50%
21.4%
… the way I address barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities
59.6%
27.3%
FEAT attendees
Non-attendees
Surveyed prior to training attendance
Surveyed at same point as attendees – pre
Surveyed up to one month following attendance
Surveyed 12 months following attendance Surveyed 12 months post
FEAT attendees
Non-attendees
Surveyed prior to training attendance
Surveyed at same point as attendees
Surveyed one month following FEAT attendance
Surveyed 12 months following pre-survey completion
CONTACT INFORMATION
Grace L. Francis
Judith M.S. Gross