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RETAIN program described as an early intervention to keep injured workers on the job
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Summary
Presenters described RETAIN, led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, as a federally funded early intervention that coordinates health and employment services to help people stay at work or return after a work-limiting injury or illness; Phase 2 operated in five states.
RETAIN is the first federally funded early intervention designed to integrate health care and employment services so people can stay at work or return to work after a work-limiting injury or illness, an unidentified presenter said. "RETAIN is the first federally funded early intervention to integrate health care and employment services to help people stay at work or return to work after a work limiting injury or illness it is led by the United States Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy in partnership with DOL's Employment and Training Administration, Chief Evaluation Office and the Social Security Administration," Speaker 1 said.
Speakers framed the program as timely because employers are struggling to find productive workers. "It matters right now because employers are having to work harder than they ever have before to find good quality productive workers," Speaker 2 said, adding that in Kentucky "there are 2 jobs available for every job applicant" and that the figure is similar nationwide.
Presenters argued that RETAIN helps multiple stakeholders. "When removing barriers in RETAIN works, everybody wins. The employee wins, the employer wins, the government wins," Speaker 4 said, and described the program's aim to reduce the number of people accessing disability and Social Security funds. Speaker 2 added that engaging more workers helps employers remain viable and supports state and national economies.
Staff and program partners described implementation approaches and a state example. "By working with Retain Ohio, we are able to give our participants personalized and tailored plans of care, and we were able to work with them, their provider, and the employer to really increase that collaborative approach and get everybody back into the workforce," Speaker 3 said, describing personalized plans intended to decrease state disability costs and keep people in the workforce.
Presenters also emphasized employer-facing messages. "When we work with employers, we explain that health is a work outcome. Healthy employees means a healthy bottom line," Speaker 5 said, urging employers to view health supports as part of workforce strategy.
Speakers described practical and human barriers the program addresses, including injury, grief and mental illness, and said outreach and employer partnerships remain priorities. "As we sustain RETAIN, we are hoping to strengthen our partnerships with employers so we can have more employer champions for RETAIN in Minnesota," Speaker 7 said. Speaker 4 added, "There's a lot of individuals that we need to reach and we need to serve."
No formal votes or policy decisions were recorded in the transcript. Presenters described RETAIN Phase 2 as operating in five states (Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont) and said the initiative seeks to expand employer engagement and individualized return-to-work supports.
