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 Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet's implementation of "RETAIN KY" 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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Individuals who are at risk of exiting the workforce due to non-work-related illness of injury
* Individuals who are employed or have been employed within the last 12 months and made at least $1,000 in one of those months
* Individuals who reside in the Kentucky
* Individuals must not have applied for or be receiving federal disability benefits including SSDI and SSI within the last 5 years
Exclusion Criteria:
* Individuals who are do not have a non-work-related illness or injury that puts them at risk of exiting the workforce
* Individuals who unemployed or have not been employed within the last 12 months
* Individuals who have not made at least $1,000 in the past 12 months
* Individuals who do not reside in the Kentucky
* Individuals who have applied for or be receiving federal disability benefits including SSDI and SSI within the last 5 years
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Share of enrollees employed in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Timeframe: Measured over the three months in the fourth quarter after enrollment
2
Enrollee earnings in the fourth quarter after enrollment
Timeframe: Measured over the three months in the fourth quarter after enrollment
3
Share of enrollees that applied for SSDI or SSI during the 12 months after enrollment
Timeframe: Measured in the 12 months after enrollment