The role of rehabilitation services in welfare reform

Abstract

This literature review provides a comprehensive review of professional journals, web-based sites, and other related materials, (i.e. longitudinal studies, etc.), to determine what role Rehabilitation Services has played to date in the provision of services to welfare recipients who have disabilities and have been affected by The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. A comprehensive exploration of a variety of literature has determined that many people within the roles of the welfare systems have disabilities which adversely affect their abilities to obtain or maintain work. Many of these individuals have document able physical and/or mental disabilities yet the welfare system lacks the expertise to effectively serve the population. Print and electronic literature will be examined and analyzed to determine the role Rehabilitation Services Administration has played in providing the required leadership, monies, and technical assistance necessary for helping this population gain self-sufficiency, retain welfare benefits, or obtain the necessary federal/state subsidy(ies) in order to sustain their quality of life. The literature evaluated provided evidence that Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has initiated the appropriate leadership, monies, and technical assistance to meet the needs of the population. RSA has allocated funds for Research and Demonstration Projects to aide States in developing state-of-the-art programs that will in turn provide best practices on a national level for serving welfare recipients who have disabilities.