Ohio RETAIN Program for Employment Retention Among Disabled Individuals

Overseen By Amaka Osuoha, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Disqualifiers: Retired, Workers' Comp claim, SSDI, Substance abuse, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 months

3200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help people stay at work or return to work after injuries or illnesses that might otherwise force them to leave their jobs. It focuses on individuals with specific musculoskeletal injuries or heart procedures, providing support and services to improve job retention. Participants will receive either the full range of assistance offered through the Ohio RETAIN program or standard care. This trial suits employed or job-seeking individuals living in certain Ohio counties who have work limitations due to recent musculoskeletal or cardiovascular issues.

As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to access specialized support that could significantly enhance participants' ability to maintain employment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that the Ohio RETAIN Program is safe for improving employment outcomes?

Research has shown that the Ohio RETAIN program helps individuals remain in their jobs or return to work after an illness or injury. It offers medical services and support to facilitate working.

Specific studies on risks or side effects are not available because this program is not a medical treatment. It serves as a support service aimed at improving job outcomes. Since it is not a drug or medical procedure, safety concerns differ from those associated with new medications. The focus is on the program's effectiveness in helping people stay employed.

In summary, joining the Ohio RETAIN program does not involve the typical safety risks of a clinical trial for a new drug or therapy. Instead, it involves participating in services designed to support continued employment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Ohio RETAIN Program because it offers a fresh approach to helping disabled individuals stay employed. Unlike traditional methods that focus solely on medical treatment or job placement, this program integrates return-to-work best practices with comprehensive support activities tailored to each participant. By emphasizing both medical and workplace interventions, the RETAIN Program aims to improve employment retention and overall quality of life for disabled individuals, offering a more holistic solution than current options.

What evidence suggests that the Ohio RETAIN Program is effective for improving employment outcomes among disabled individuals?

Research shows that the Ohio RETAIN program, available to participants in this trial, helps individuals maintain or return to work after an injury or illness. Studies have found that early intervention, like that offered by RETAIN, can enhance job stability and reduce long-term disability. Participants in similar programs have experienced improved job outcomes and a decreased need for public assistance. The RETAIN program supports individuals by coordinating services to help them remain in their work roles. Early results suggest that these methods could lead to improved health and job stability. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jill Berk, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The Ohio RETAIN trial is for people aged 18-65 living in specific counties of Ohio who have had a recent musculoskeletal injury or cardiovascular procedure, are currently working or job-seeking, and have work limitations prescribed by a doctor. It's not for those retired, with workers' comp claims, on disability insurance, substance abuse issues, legal representation, pregnancy, terminal disease or multi-system trauma.

Inclusion Criteria

I have documented work limitations due to my illness, confirmed by my healthcare provider.

I have a recent injury or surgery not caused by work that affects my job.

I have a recent significant injury or had a heart-related procedure.

Exclusion Criteria

Has legal representation

I am retired.

Pregnant

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the full set of RETAIN intervention activities, including medical provider services and SAW/RTW coordination services

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for employment outcomes and application for SSDI or SSI benefits

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ohio RETAIN

Trial Overview Ohio RETAIN aims to help individuals stay employed after an injury or illness that could lead them to leave the workforce. The program includes medical services and coordination to facilitate staying at work or returning as soon as possible. This evaluation will measure how well it works and if it's cost-effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: RETAIN Programming Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The experimental group receives the full set of RETAIN intervention activities.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Medical providers who treat both treatment and control group enrollees receive training on stay-at-work/return-to-work best practices

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

68

Recruited

31,130,000+

Social Security Administration

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

8,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 201 veterans with spinal cord injuries, those participating in the Supported Employment (SE) program were significantly more likely to secure competitive employment (30.8%) compared to those receiving Treatment as Usual (TAU) (10.5% and 2.3% for different TAU groups).

The SE program, based on the individual placement and support model, showed that most employment was achieved within the first year, with an average time to first job of about 17 weeks, highlighting the importance of early intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of supported employment for veterans with spinal cord injury: 2-year results. Ottomanelli, L., Barnett, SD., Goetz, LL.[2014]

In a 24-month program of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI), 43.2% of participants secured competitive jobs, indicating the program's effectiveness in improving employment outcomes.

Among veterans without a history of traumatic brain injury, the employment rate was even higher at 52.2%, suggesting that IPS may be particularly beneficial for this subgroup.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Individual Placement and Support in Spinal Cord Injury: A Longitudinal Observational Study of Employment Outcomes. Ottomanelli, L., Goetz, LL., Barnett, SD., et al.[2018]

A study of 1,484 individuals in supported employment programs revealed that job retention is influenced by various factors, including vocational skills, behavioral traits, economic conditions, and external circumstances.

Different strategies, such as compensatory techniques, self-management, and support from co-workers, are being explored to help individuals overcome behavioral challenges and improve their chances of keeping a job.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of behavioral deficits on employment retention: an illustration from supported employment. Kregel, J., Parent, W., West, M.[2014]

A systematic review of 9 trials involving employees on work absence for at least 4 weeks found that return to work (RTW) coordination programs led to a small but significant increase in the likelihood of patients returning to work compared to usual practice, with a risk ratio of 1.08.

RTW coordination also resulted in modest improvements in overall function, physical function, mental function, and pain levels, suggesting that while the effects are small, they may be clinically meaningful for patients at risk of long-term disability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Return to work coordination programmes for work disability: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Schandelmaier, S., Ebrahim, S., Burkhardt, SC., et al.[2021]

Job placement services significantly improve employment outcomes for individuals with orthopedic disabilities, yet only 25% of clients utilized these services, indicating a need for better access and awareness.

Clients receiving social security benefits had lower competitive employment rates (45%) compared to those without such benefits (60%), suggesting that these financial supports may discourage job seeking.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predicting employment outcomes of rehabilitation clients with orthopedic disabilities: a CHAID analysis. Chan, F., Cheing, G., Chan, JY., et al.[2022]

The Bristol Employment Collaborative (BEC) has created a successful model to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities by training them as personal assistance services workers, addressing both unemployment and healthcare labor shortages.

Since its launch in 2009, BEC has implemented a certificate program through a local community college, with the first class graduating just ten weeks after enrollment, demonstrating a quick pathway to employment in a high-demand field.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities in healthcare: the Bristol Employment Collaborative. Laszlo, A., Henry, A., Goldsberry, J., et al.[2022]

Supported employment is effective in helping 278 severely disabled individuals, including those with chronic mental illness and traumatic brain injury, to find and keep jobs in competitive industries.

The study revealed differences in outcomes based on disability type, such as variations in wages and job retention, providing a baseline for future evaluations of supported employment programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supported employment: an alternative model for vocational rehabilitation of persons with severe neurologic, psychiatric, or physical disability. Wehman, PH., Revell, WG., Kregel, J., et al.[2018]

In a study of 449 individuals with psychiatric disabilities over 13 years, those who received supported employment services were nearly three times more likely to be employed compared to those who did not receive these services.

Participants in the supported employment group earned significantly more per month and were much more likely to achieve nonbeneficiary status with Social Security, although the benefits of supported employment diminished over time.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-Term Effects of Evidence-Based Supported Employment on Earnings and on SSI and SSDI Participation Among Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities. Cook, JA., Burke-Miller, JK., Roessel, E.[2019]

Approximately 65% of injured workers successfully returned to employment after participating in a return to work program, with significant factors influencing success including gender, motivation, and employer interest.

Workers from interested employers were 23 times more likely to return to work, while those whose intervention lasted over 5 months were 41% less likely to return compared to those with interventions of 3 months or less, highlighting the importance of timely and supportive employer engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Return-to-Work Program for Injured Workers: Factors of Successful Return to Employment. Awang, H., Shahabudin, SM., Mansor, N.[2018]

In a study involving 201 veterans with spinal cord injuries, those who participated in a supported employment (SE) program were 2.5 times more likely to secure competitive jobs compared to those receiving treatment as usual (TAU) at intervention sites, and 11.4 times more likely compared to those in nonrandomized TAU at observational sites.

This research is significant as it is the first controlled study to demonstrate that a specific vocational rehabilitation program can lead to improved employment outcomes for veterans with spinal cord injuries, highlighting the effectiveness of SE in integrated vocational care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of supported employment for veterans with spinal cord injuries: results from a randomized multisite study. Ottomanelli, L., Goetz, LL., Suris, A., et al.[2012]

A study of 1850 patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders found that older age, female sex, and extreme disability at admission were significant predictors of failing to retain work one year after treatment.

Other notable risk factors included nonworking status at discharge, antisocial personality disorder, receiving government disability benefits, and dependence on opiate pain medications, which can help tailor individualized treatment plans for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prediction of failure to retain work 1 year after interdisciplinary functional restoration in occupational injuries. Brede, E., Mayer, TG., Gatchel, RJ.[2012]

The RETAIN Kentucky program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to help individuals with non-work-related injuries and illnesses return to work or stay employed, utilizing RTW Coordinators for support.

After nearly 3 years of Phase 1, the program is transitioning to Phase 2, which will last 30 months and build on the insights gained to improve employment retention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

RETAIN Kentucky: A return-to-work and stay-at-work program for people with disabilities grounded in the conservation of resources theory. Rumrill, P., Sheppard-Jones, K., Collett, JW., et al.[2022]

In California, 22.2% of State Disability Insurance (SDI) claims and 33.7% of Workers' Compensation (WC) claims last longer than 6 months, indicating a significant portion of claimants may be at risk of long-term disability.

The study suggests that understanding the characteristics of these claims can help predict which individuals are likely to remain disabled for at least 12 months, highlighting the need for early intervention services to improve outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Early Identification of Potential SSDI Entrants in California: The Predictive Value of State Disability Insurance and Workers' Compensation Claims. Neuhauser, F., Ben-Shalom, Y., Stapleton, D.[2019]

Citations

1. mathematica.org mathematica.org/publications/retain-demonstration-impacts-two-months-after-enrollment

The Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... This report presents early impacts of the RETAIN demonstration, a federal initiative to help workers with recent injuries or illnesses ...

2. ssa.gov ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/retain.htm

Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... The RETAIN demonstration seeks to increase employment retention and labor force participation and reduce long-term work disability among project participants.

3. dol.gov dol.gov/resource-library/retaining-employment-and-talent-after-injuryillness-network-retain-impact

Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... The RETAIN demonstration project is designed to test early intervention Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work (SAW/RTW) strategies to improve labor force participation, ...

4. codes.ohio.gov codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-5101:9-31-89

Rule 5101:9-31-89 - Ohio Administrative Code (D) The Ohio retaining employment and talent after injury/illness network (RETAIN) demonstration project focuses on serving individuals aged ...

5. wdbinc.org wdbinc.org/media/716f321f-d11c-4df2-8b00-bdb9e4caf533/GbMwPA/PDFs/10.16.18%20WDB%20Meeting%20Materials%20PDF/Agenda%20Itm%208_Ohio%20RETAIN%20Project%20Summary.pdf

Ohio Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... Program Goal: To improve healthcare results by implementing a patient-centered Return to. Work/Stay at Work (RTW/SAW) model that utilizes early intervention by ...

6. dol.gov dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/saw-rtw/retain

Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... RETAIN programs implement early intervention strategies to improve stay-at-work/return-to-work (SAW/RTW) outcomes of individuals who experience a work ...

7. federalregister.gov federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/14/2025-06262/proposed-extension-of-information-collection-retaining-employment-and-talent-after-injuryillness

Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness ... The RETAIN Demonstration Projects provide opportunities to improve SAW/RTW outcomes for individuals with both occupational and non-occupational injuries and ...