Toronto • May 28-29, 2010 • Student Day and Workshops: May 27
Paper: Using research to improve work reintegration outcomes
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Session : 9. Sustainable RTW (2/3)
Day/Time: Friday at 15:15
Room: St. Patrick Room, 3rd Floor
Objectives:
To describe how the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is using research in policy and program design to improve work reintegration outcomes. To describe the benefits and challenges of incorporating evidence into policy and program design.
Methods:
WSIB has been using work reintegration research to inform policy, program design and service delivery interventions for several years. A set of evidence-based RTW policies was created in 2006, a new service delivery model was introduced in 2008-09 that incorporated research into several processes, and a new work reintegration model/strategy is being developed based on leading global practices and intervention research.
Results:
The session is not about the research itself, but about the ways in which WSIB has used it, the benefits and challenges of incorporating research into policy, program design and practice. WSIB has collaborated with researchers to understand work reintegration performance drivers and duration, in the design of processes and tools for front-line service delivery, and in creating a new work reintegration model. Benefits include increased confidence in and credibility of the design, greater awareness of where evidence is lacking, and encouragement of relevant research. Challenges include knowing what evidence is strong, how to translate knowledge into a practical tool, and how to assess why it may not be working, as well as just getting comfortable working with researchers in this way.
Conclusions:
There are rewards in using research to build strategy, policy, programs and interventions. It is not a simple process, however. The WSIB experience will provide insight to both researchers and policy-makers on what works well and what challenges may be encountered.
