Is There Life after Placement?

Long term job maintenance problems among the graduates of a vocational placement program over a six year period were examined. Most problems fell into three categories (a) decline in vocational performance due to the scarcity of performance feedback; (b) deficits in social and/or life skills which interfered with the job; and (c) emergence of job threatening problems long after typical agency intervention had been completed. The findings suggest a need to provide follow-up services over an extended period in order to maintain employment. The costs of providing such services are reported.