Vocational Empowerment Photovoice (VEP)

The purpose of this project is to evaluate a promising peer-run psycho-educational group
intervention titled "Vocational Empowerment Photovoice (VEP)" that aims to empower
individuals with the most disabling psychiatric disabilities to engage in vocational services
and pursue employment through the enhancement of their vocational hope, sense of vocational
identity, work motivation, work-related self-efficacy, and capacity to deal with psychiatric
stigma and discrimination. The VEP program was designed and pilot tested with a small
randomized study (n=51) as part of a National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR) funded research and training center (RTC) on Improving the Employment
Outcomes (2009-2014). VEP is a 10-week peer-run program enhanced with 3 group booster
sessions and the availability of weekly individual support provided by the VEP peer-leaders
in keeping with each participant's formulated vocational goals. The researchers propose to
evaluate the effectiveness of the VEP intervention using a large multi-site randomized
controlled trial (RCT) with a total of 160 individuals who are not engaged in vocational
services or working, but express such interests. The RCT will be carried out at 2 different
mental health agencies (Thresholds in Chicago, IL and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Long
Island, NY) both of which provide supported employment services. Eighty individuals will be
recruited at each of these two study sites and will be assessed at baseline and 4 post
baseline follow-up points. The efficacy of the VEP intervention will be tested in regards to
two types of outcomes: a) extrinsic (for example, engagement in employment services,
job-seeking activities, or employment), and b) intrinsic (for example, enhanced vocational
hope, sense of vocational identity, work motivation, work-related self-efficacy). The
researchers propose a small qualitative sub-study to inform future implementation and scaling
up of VEP based on its effectiveness. Upon completion of each wave of the RCT the researchers
will conduct an approximately 90-minutes focus group with participants in the VEP program and
individual interviews with the VEP peer leaders. At the conclusion of the RCT at each
collaborating site, the researchers will conduct individual interviews with the VEP
supervisor(s), research staff and agency senior manager(s) familiar with the study.

The study is currently approved for the Thresholds site and recruitment is under way at this
site.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. are 18 or older

2. have a DSM-IV diagnosis of serious mental illness, including dual diagnosis

3. are not working currently due to their mental illness

4. are not receiving or in a process of receiving employment services

5. are interested in learning about ways to pursue work in the future

6. are fluent in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. co-existing physical or developmental disabilities resulting in cognitive limitations

2. Inability to give full and knowing consent.