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Performance-based contracting: turning vocational policy into jobs
Lauren B Gates1, Suzanne W Klein, Sheila H Akabas
1Center for Social Policy and Practice in the Workplace, Columbia University School of Social Work, 622 West 113th Street, New York, NY 10025, USA. lbg13@columbia.edu
Administration and Policy in Mental Health
|May 27, 2004
Summary
Performance-based contracting (PBC) shows promise in improving competitive employment for individuals with serious mental health conditions. This approach is also encouraging service providers to enhance their recruitment and support strategies.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Services Research
- Health Economics
- Employment Interventions
Background:
- Serious persistent mental health conditions present significant barriers to competitive employment.
- Traditional service delivery models may not adequately support employment outcomes.
- Performance-based contracting (PBC) is an innovative approach to incentivize service improvements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of performance-based contracting (PBC) in increasing competitive employment rates for individuals with serious persistent mental health conditions.
- To assess whether PBC promotes best practices among mental health service providers.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year demonstration project was implemented by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
- Interim findings from the demonstration are reported.
Main Results:
- Performance-based contracting (PBC) is successfully engaging the target population.
- A significant proportion of participants are achieving competitive employment.
- PBC is prompting agencies to re-evaluate and improve various aspects of service delivery, including recruitment, job development, staffing, and support coordination.
Conclusions:
- Interim results indicate that performance-based contracting (PBC) is a viable strategy for enhancing employment outcomes for individuals with serious mental health conditions.
- PBC is a catalyst for service providers to adopt and refine best practices in supporting consumer employment.