The MPRC/JOBS program : 17 Years of Research and Development

The MPRC/JOBS program : 17 Years of Research and Development

Global changes in technology, economic restructuring and political reform are precipitating work transitions and job loss for individuals and families throughout the world with dramatic impacts on individual, family and community well-being. Organized systems of support are needed to help support individuals and families as they cope with these work transitions. The Michigan Prevention Research Center has developed the JOBS program to respond to this need. More than a decade of research has documented JOBS' positive preventive impact on reemployment, economic benefits and mental health. The next challenge is to promote widespread implementation of JOBS. We argue that program model implementation is a form of organizational reinvention in which a shared theory of program action is essential to both organizational effectiveness and program success. We offer an agenda for future research on the process of mutual adaptation in organizational innovation as a next step in advancing the understanding and effectiveness of organized support systems for individuals, families and communities.