Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN)

The RETAIN (Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network) demonstration, a joint initiative by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Labor (DOL), aims to test early intervention strategies to enhance labor force participation and retention among individuals with new injuries or disabilities, thereby reducing their reliance on Social Security disability benefits. The SSA and DOL are the primary institutions, with Mathematica Policy Research contracted for evaluation. Stakeholders include injured/disabled workers, employers, healthcare providers, and state agencies. RETAIN is a national initiative with Phase 1 involving eight States and Phase 2 focusing on Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Vermont. It targets workers soon after the onset of work-impacting conditions and involves partnerships with at least one health-care system in each State. Main Features and Strategies include the early identification of affected workers, the return-to-work coordinators to manage health and employment services. Furthermore, the training for health-care providers in occupational health and several measures encouraging early communication between workers, employers, and health-care providers. Phase 1 involved planning and pilot programs, while Phase 2 started in October 2021. The final process analysis report is anticipated in September 2025, marking a significant evaluation milestone.