Rupp K, Bell S H, McManus L A
Soc Secur Bull. 1994 Summer;57(2):3-20.
As the Nation's first rigorous large-scale evaluation of vocational rehabilitation (VR) assistance to persons with severe disabilities, the Project NetWork demonstration will provide a wide range of information to policy-makers, researchers, and other interest groups. The evaluation of Project NetWork addresses two key policy questions: Is it feasible to increase participation in VR services among Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants/recipients through a combination of intensive outreach, case management, and enhanced work incentives? Do the interventions tested produce net benefits from the perspective of participants, society, the DI Trust Fund, and the Federal Government, as a whole? The study utilizes a randomized field experiment design to evaluate the net impact of the demonstration on participant employment, earnings, receipt of transfer benefits, social and psychological well-being, and other variables of interest to policymakers. A combination of SSA administrative data, information from the demonstration's onsite management information system (MIS), and in-person interviews (containing a rich array of information on disability, health, and attitudes) supports the evaluation. This article summarizes three aspects of the evaluation: Its experimental and sample design; the methods and data to be used to analyze project benefits, costs, and participation; and the challenges faced during demonstration implementation. It also presents preliminary data on the characteristics of Project NetWork participants and eligibles.
作为美国对重度残疾人职业康复（VR）援助的首次严格大规模评估，“网络项目”示范将为政策制定者、研究人员和其他利益集团提供广泛信息。对“网络项目”的评估涉及两个关键政策问题：通过强化外展、个案管理和增强工作激励措施相结合，增加残疾保险（DI）受益人及补充保障收入（SSI）申请人/领取者对VR服务的参与度是否可行？从参与者、社会、DI信托基金和联邦政府整体的角度来看，所测试的干预措施是否能产生净收益？该研究采用随机实地实验设计，以评估示范对参与者就业、收入、转移福利领取、社会和心理健康以及政策制定者感兴趣的其他变量的净影响。社会保障管理局（SSA）的行政数据、示范现场管理信息系统（MIS）的信息以及面对面访谈（包含有关残疾、健康和态度的丰富信息）相结合，为评估提供了支持。本文总结了评估的三个方面：其实验和样本设计；用于分析项目收益、成本和参与情况的方法及数据；以及示范实施过程中面临的挑战。此外，还展示了有关“网络项目”参与者和符合条件者特征的初步数据。
