Effect of job skills training on employment and job seeking behaviors in an American Indian substance abuse treatment sample.

Employment difficulties are common among American Indian individuals in substance abuse treatment. To address this problem, the Southwest Node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network conducted a single-site adaptation of its national Job Seekers Workshop (protocol CTN-0020) in an American Indian treatment program, Na’Nihoozhi Center (NCI). One hundred and two (80% men, 100% American Indian) participants who were in residential treatment and currently unemployed were randomized to (1) a three-session, manualized program (Job Seekers Workshop: JSW) or (2) a 40-minute video on how to interview for a job (Job Interviewing Video: JIV). Outcomes were assessed at 3-month follow-up: 1) number of days to a new taxed job or enrollment in a job-training program, and 2) total hours working or enrolled in a job-training program. No significant differences were found between the two groups for time to a new taxed job or enrollment in a job-training program. There were no significant differences between groups in substance use frequency at 3-month follow-up.

These results do not support the use of the costly and time-consuming JSW intervention in this population and setting. Despite of the lack of a demonstrable treatment effect, this study established the feasibility of including a rural American Indian site in a rigorous CTN trial through a community-based participatory research approach.

Related protocols: CTN-0020-A-1