CIBHS has pursued policy-relevant studies of CalWORKs
participants with behavioral health or domestic violence issues
since 1999.
The initial effort, called “The CalWORKs Project,” was based on a
1999-2002 collaboration between CIBHS, Children and Family
Futures, and the Family Violence Prevention Fund. It included a
study in six counties designed to understand and disseminate
promising practices for providing MH/SA/DV services. It also
included an epidemiological study in Stanislaus County and Kern
County. A number of reports and resources for policy-makers and
program leaders are available on this site as are three
peer-reviewed articles (link to older CalWORKs
publications).
Since 2003, CIBHS has had a contract with the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors to provide evaluations of CalWORKs
“supportive services programs.” This is the term preferred by the
Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services term for mental
health, substance abuse, and domestic violence services paid for
by welfare funding allocated by the California Legislature but
delivered through the county and contract agencies.
CIBHS CalWORKs studies in Los Angeles have concentrated on three
areas:
Homeless families on CalWORKs studies. In
2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 studies were conducted on programs in
each Los Angeles County supervisorial district serving homeless
families. A 2010 study looked at the integration of mental
health and substance abuse services in the same six programs.
Outcome studies. Five general outcome studies
have been conducted. The evaluations in 2003 and 2005
encompassed mental health, substance abuse, and domestic
violence programs. In 2006 mental health and substance abuse
were evaluated but not domestic violence. In 2007 and
2015 the evaluation applied only to CalWORKs mental
health programs. In 2011 a peer-reviewed article on mental
health outcomes was published. The initial report summarizing
outcomes and methodological issues was published in July of
2015.
A research evaluation of the implementation and
outcomes of supported employment programs integrated into 54
CalWORKs mental health programs starting in 2012. The
effectiveness of the Individual Placement and Support model of
employment services is assessed. Phase I of this evaluation was
published in June 2014. Phase II is scheduled for June of 2017.
This is the second phase of a study of an evidence-based
employment program for Los Angeles County CalWORKs mental health
program participants. Los Angeles Department of Public Social
Services records of employer-verified earnings showed that 33% of
study participants worked during treatment. Forty-seven
percent of participants worked in the year following IPS
enrollment, 50% worked within 14 months, and 53% worked within 16
months. These figures are supported by interviews with
participants and by a system-wide outcome monitoring study.
In July of 2012, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental
Health began implementing the Individual Placement and Support
model of supported employment in every agency.
This report shows the employment and engagement outcomes for the
first phase of implementation. There is a short report designed
for the public and a longer technical report that contains more
detail.
For several years CIBHS has been working with the Los Angeles
Department of Mental Health to design a system for the routine
monitoring of CalWORKs Mental Health outcomes. This study
evaluates the implementation of the monitoring system between
October 2014 and February 2016. It also uses data from the
monitoring effort to profile employment and psychiatric outcomes
on a quarterly basis. Finally it presents four policy issues that
the monitoring data permits DMH to address.
This report, prepared for the Los Angles County Mental Health
Department, uses several data sources to profile 54 LA CalWORKs
mental health programs. The report sets the context of 15 years
of welfare reform and then discusses hurdles to employment
experienced by CalWORKs mental health participants. Outcomes of
services are shown for Engagement and Disaffiliation, Employment,
Mental Health and personal strengths.
