Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at BU

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Improved Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities, 2009-2014

Marianne Farkas, Sc.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
mfarkas@bu.edu | see profile

E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
erogers@bu.edu | see profile

The RRTC is divided into two components: the Research Program and the Training, Dissemination, and Technical Assistance Program.

Research Program Mission

The mission of the research program of this Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) is to develop and evaluate new knowledge, and based on that new knowledge, to improve employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

Areas of Concentration

The priorities set forth by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Center for Mental Health Services (1) in the Federal Register directed this RRTC to: 1) improve the models, programs, and interventions that will enable individuals with psychiatric disabilities to obtain, retain, and advance in competitive employment of their choice, and 2) develop projects to increase incorporation of research findings related to employment into practice and policy. RRTC research and training projects are organized into three main areas:

Research Priorities	Projects Related to Priorities
1) Employment Interventions and Accommodations	Research	A randomized clinical trial evaluating the incremental efficacy of Vocational Illness Management and Recovery (V-IMR) when compared to Individual Placement and Support (IPS) alone
	Research	A randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a peer- run photovoice-based intervention to empower Caucasians, African Americans and Latinos with psychiatric disabilities to pursue employment
	Research	A randomized clinical trial examining the effectiveness of peer-delivered vocational supports
	Research	Enhancing employment through a combined supported employment/supported education model: An exploratory study
	Training	Vocational Illness Management and Recovery: Developing a training program for providers
	Training	Vocational Peer Support: Developing a training program for Vocational Peer Specialists
	Training	Vocational Empowerment: Developing a culturally competent peer-run photovoice training program
2) Barriers and Facilitators related to Effective Employment Partnerships	Research	Analysis of the effectiveness of the Northeast Partnership of Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) in improving interagency collaboration to promote employment among persons with disabilities
3) Employment Interventions for Traditionally Underserved Groups	Research	A randomized clinical trial evaluating the incremental efficacy of Vocational Illness Management and Recovery (V-IMR) when compared to Individual Placement and Support (IPS) alone
	Training	Vocational Illness Management and Recovery: Developing a training program for providers

Training Dissemination and Technical Assistance project information is also available.

1. Federal Register on July 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 143, Page 37202) promulgated by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation (NIDRR), in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 84.133B-1.

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation has been jointly funded as a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) in mental health by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).