Efficiency in Vocational Rehabilitation Program Service Delivery: The Impact of Socioeconomic Context

Abstract

Background:State-federal (VR) program efficiency is the focus of empirical research because of increases in the magnitude and types of program requests, possibly funding cuts and class for models to more appropriately measure and evaluate performance.Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the impact socioeconomic diversity has on the efficiency of service delivery outcomes at the agency level.Methods:Regular closed employment and competitive employment outcome proxy for service delivery outcome. Seven indicators of socioeconomic status are selected: level of English Language proficiency, percentage with high school education, percentage with a bachelor’s degree, number of persons in a household, per capita income, median household income, and poverty level.Findings:Results obtained suggest the magnitude of non-English language spoken in homes and the level of individuals with bachelor’s degrees in the environment served have a significant impact on the efficiency of both regular and competitive placement outcomes at agency level. In addition, the level of high school education and per capita income affect the ability of agencies to procure competitive employment outcomes.Conclusion:Our result provides evidence that gaining knowledge about the environment from which clients emerge and in which agencies operate is necessary for efficient and effective agency level performance. Our work suggests that knowledge about the presence of language proficiency and bachelors’ degree attainment is key to planning, organizing, directing and controlling the efficiency of agency level regular employment outcome.