An interventional study of RETAINWORKS in Disability, sponsored by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-12.
Sponsored by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
The Retaining Employment and Talent after Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) demonstration is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to improve employment outcomes for individuals who experience injuries or illnesses that put them at risk of exiting the labor force and relying on disability programs and other public supports in the long term. RETAIN projects include a combination of medical provider services, stay-at-work/return-to-work (SAW/RTW) coordination services, and other SAW/RTW services. This evaluation will focus on the Kansas Department of Commerce's implementation of "RETAINWORKS" statewide. The evaluation will document how the project is implemented, describe enrollees, estimate the project's impacts on enrollees' outcomes, and assess whether the benefits outweigh the costs.
The Kansas Department of Commerce has partnered with a consortium of medical and business partners to implement "RETAINWORKS" statewide. SSA contracted with Mathematica to conduct an independent evaluation of the program. Under the RETAIN model medical providers receive training and incentives to use occupational health best practices. The state agency also coordinates SAW/RTW services for the enrollee, fosters communication among RETAINWORKS stakeholders about the treatment enrollee returning to work, and monitors the enrollee's medical and employment progress. RETAINWORKS also uses nurse navigators and workforce coordinators to support workplace-based interventions and retain or rehabilitate enrollees. Financial incentives are offered to participants and medical providers for milestone attainment and training achievement.
Kansas recruits participants through referrals from medical providers. After initial intake by a nurse navigator, a workforce coordinator randomly assigns each enrollee to either a treatment group that is eligible to receive the full set of RETAIN intervention activities or a control group that is not. The evaluation team then compares the outcomes of the two groups and gathers evidence on how RETAINWORKS shaped the outcomes of enrollees who were eligible for its services, regardless of whether they participated in those services. Data sources include enrollment data, surveys, administrative records, program data, and qualitative data.
The work disability (i.e., illness, injury, or medical condition) must impact the participant's employment in one or more of the following ways:
The condition must be a new condition or an exacerbation of a chronic condition that falls into one or more of the following categories:
The participant must meet all the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria
The experimental group receives the full set of RETAINWORKS intervention activities.
Other: RETAINWORKS
The control group receives information and referral to partner services.
The experimental group is eligible to receive the full set of RETAINWORKS intervention activities. The program includes a combination of medical provider services, stay-at-work (SAW)/return-to-work (RTW) coordination services, and other SAW/RTW services. Participants receive intensive case management and care coordination by health and employment services RTW navigators. Financial incentives are offered to participants and medical providers for milestone attainment and training achievement.
Share of enrollees employed in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Share of enrollees employed in the fourth quarter after enrollment obtained from state unemployment insurance wage records. These files include individual-level wage records for six quarters surrounding enrollment in the study, including the quarter prior to enrollment, the quarter of enrollment, and four post-enrollment quarters.
Time frame: Measured over the three months in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Enrollee earnings in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Sum of enrollee earnings in the fourth quarter after enrollment obtained from state unemployment insurance wage records. These files include individual-level wage records for six quarters surrounding enrollment in the study, including the quarter prior to enrollment, the quarter of enrollment, and four post-enrollment quarters.
Time frame: Measured over the three months in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Share of enrollees that applied for SSDI or SSI during the 12 months after enrollment
Share of enrollees that applied for SSDI or SSI during any of the 12 months after enrollment obtained from SSA program data. These files include detailed information about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications SSDI and SSI awards, SSDI and SSI benefit amounts and enrollee characteristics (for enrollees who have ever applied for SSA program benefits)
Time frame: Measured in the 12 months after enrollment.
Plan to share: No
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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.