VRFD Interview Topics

Interview topics for VRF program staff

In this appendix, we provide a list of topics we will cover during the first and second site visits.
During the site visits Mathematica staff will interview several types of respondents: RFs, KIR
staff including the project director and members of the executive steering committee, and DVRS
staff. Not all topics are applicable to all respondents. Mathematica likely will not cover all topics
with a single respondent. For example, sustainability and scaling will be the focus of discussions
with VRFD project director; counterfactual services will be the focus of discussion with DVRS
staff, and service delivery will be the focus of discussion with RFs. We will tailor the interview
guide for particular respondents, and we will build on information we obtain during early
program implementation.

Interview topics to cover during the first visit to interview VRF program staff

The goals of the first site visit are to (1) describe recruitment and enrollment processes and deviations from the planned processes, (2)
describe how the VRF model components are being operationalized, and (3) identify factors that hindered and facilitated service
delivery.
Orange = only asked during first SV
A. Background
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General background information

B. Program environment – community context and the
counterfactual
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What economic conditions, employment environment, and
other state- or location-specific characteristics might have
influenced VRF service delivery and impact on outcomes?
C. Recruitment and enrollment activities
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How did VRFD recruit patients for enrollment? Did this change
during the project and if so, how?
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What motivated patients to enroll in VRFD? What other factors
influenced the enrollment rate?

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Respondent’s role in organization and tenure in position
Respondent’s role on VRFD
Organization’s role in VRFD
Other staff in organization involved in VRFD (number and roles)
How VRFD fits with organization’s overall structure

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Implications of the economy on the labor market over past year
Implications of political climate on service environment over past year
State/local policies and features (i.e., public transit) that assist or hinder people with
disabilities in securing employment
Description of geographic region/service area (size and distribution of population)

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Target population and strategies to identify workers who are eligible for VRFD
Strategies used to recruit and enroll VRFD enrollees into the demonstration
Challenges to recruiting and enrolling individuals into the demonstration
Facilitators of recruiting and enrolling individuals into the demonstration
Progress toward recruitment and enrollment goals
Recruitment and enrollment activities compared to planned model of recruitment and
enrollment and reasons for adaptations
Reasons why eligible patients choose to participate in VRFD; reasons they choose
not to participate in VRFD

D. Program operations and service delivery
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How did KIR partner with DVRS or others to implement and
deliver VRF services?
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What training did KIR provide to RFs? What was the staffing
structure?
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How did VRF service implementation change over time and
why? How did the implementation of VRF services differ for
patients with BI versus those with SCI?

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E. Barriers to and facilitators of program implementation
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What factors hindered VRF service delivery? How did service
providers overcome these challenges?
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What factors enhanced VRF service delivery?

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Overall organization and management structure of VRFD
Roles of partner organizations in VRFD (organizations that support service delivery)
Nature of communication and collaboration between organizations involved in VRFD
Service delivery model
Training RFs
Integrating RFs into the clinical team
Providing return-to-work services
Engaging employers
Providing benefits counseling
Coordinating services
Introducing peer mentoring services
Tracking and monitoring the medical and employment progress of VRFD service
users
Changes made to services as a result of participation in VRFD
Extent to which service delivery model was implemented as planned
Functions and utility of the management information system and data entry
processes
Challenges to operationalizing each service delivery component, including provider
and worker participation
Facilitators of operationalizing each service delivery component, including provider
and worker participation

Interview topics covered in the second visit to interview VRF program staff

The goals of the second site visit are to (1) describe changes made to the topics covered in the first site visit, (2) describe plans for
sustaining the model, (3) collect information about program costs, and (4) describe counterfactual services.
Purple = only asked during second site visit
A. Background (for new respondents only)
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General background information

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Respondent’s role in organization and tenure in position
Respondent’s role on VRFD
Organization’s role in VRFD

B. Program environment – community context and the
counterfactual
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What economic conditions, employment environment, and
other state- or location-specific characteristics might have
influenced VRF service delivery and impact on outcomes?
How were VRF services distinct from services available to the
control group?

Changes to the economy on the labor market over past year
Changes to the service environment over past year
Changes to state/local policies and features (i.e., public transit) that assist or hinder
people with disabilities in securing employment
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Services similar to VRFD available to patients who are eligible for VRFD
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Similarities and differences to VRFD program services
Changes in VR services during the demonstration period

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C. Program operations and service delivery
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What training did KIR provide to RFs? What was the staffing
structure?
How did VRF service implementation change over time and
why? How did the implementation of VRF services differ for
patients with BI versus those with SCI?

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Changes to the service delivery model
Changes to training RFs
Changes to integrating RFs into the clinical team
Changes to return-to-work services
Changes to engaging employers
Changes to providing benefits counseling
Changes to coordinating services
Changes to introducing peer mentoring services
Changes to tracking and monitoring the medical and employment progress of VRFD
service users
Extent to which service delivery model was implemented as planned

D. Barriers to and facilitators of program implementation
•
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What factors hindered VRF service delivery? How did service
providers overcome these challenges?
What factors enhanced VRF service delivery?

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Challenges to operationalizing each service delivery component, including provider
and worker participation
Facilitators of operationalizing each service delivery component, including provider
and worker participation

E. Sustainability and scaling
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What are KIR’s plans for sustaining VRF services after the
project?
What are program and partner staff recommendations for
continuing, modifying, or expanding VRF services?

F.

Program costs

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What is the cost of implementing VRFD?

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Plans to sustain VRF service delivery after the end of VRFD
Anticipated challenges for sustaining or scaling service delivery

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Project budget and funding
Additional revenue sources for VRFD aside from cooperative award funds
Financial reporting processes
Staff and volunteer time dedicated to VRFD and specific program components (and
nature of time collection systems)
Overhead and capital costs allocated to VRFD (and nature of accounting systems)
Subcontract or vendor payments

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