 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
La Fleur F. Small, MA1, Lisa R. Metsch, PhD1, Margaret Pereyra, MPH2, and Christine C. Miles, MA1. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 313, Miami, FL 33136, 305-284-8289, slafleur@miami.edu, (2) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, 1801 NW 9th Ave (D-93), Miami, FL 33136
Employment and Welfare Outcomes of Women Discharge from Drug Treatment Programs in Florida
Research Objective: This study seeks to determine what percent of individuals discharged from substance abuse treatment make the transition to employment and characteristics that facilitate or inhibit this transition.
Methods: Statewide databases of substance abuse treatment, cash assistance, and employment were linked. The sample was limited to women who received cash assistance within three months prior to admission to treatment, were 18 years or older at the time of discharge, and were still unemployed three months after discharge (N=2049). Logistic regression was used to model the transition into employment.
Results: Of the study population, initially two-thirds were receiving cash assistance and one-third neither worked nor received welfare. One third of those who were unemployed during the first quarter transitioned into work within a year. The multivariate model demonstrated three major findings: (1) women who had been arrested at least once in the past 24 months were less likely to transition into work, (2) older women were less likely to transition into work (OR=0.969 for each additional year of age), and (3) women who completed treatment were more likely to transition into work, but only if they were not high school graduates.
Conclusion: The importance of substance abuse treatment to employment is mitigated by other factors including history of arrest.
Key words: substance abuse treatment, welfare reform, work
Learning objectives: (1) appreciate the complex relationships among substance abuse treatment; cash assistance and employment among women substance abusers (2) understand the importance of conducting further studies to fully evaluate the success of new welfare policies on special populations.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.