Development and evaluation of an online vocational program for veterans with legal convictions and psychiatric illness

Purpose: We describe the development and pilot evaluation of an online vocational rehabilitation program, the About Face Online System (AFOS), for veterans with a history of felony convictions and either mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Method: Phase One was the development and acceptability testing of the online system. Phase Two was a small, randomized trial comparing the likelihood of obtaining employment among people using the AFOS, compared to people receiving a self-directed hardcopy manual, after 6 months. Results: In Phase One, 17 veterans provided feedback as the system was being developed. The final system allows veterans to receive education on vocational reintegration skills, watch short videos describing the techniques, and communicate with a vocational staff member via chat features. Veterans found the AFOS to be as acceptable as a hardcopy manual that covered similar material. In Phase Two, 38 veterans with a history of felony convictions and either mental illness or substance use disorder were randomized to receive the AFOS or a hardcopy manual. After 6 months, people randomized to the AFOS were more likely to obtain employment than people randomized to the hardcopy manual. Conclusion: An online vocational program may help veterans who cannot attend traditional in-person vocational services to successfully obtain employment.