The trainee project: Family-aided vocational rehabilitation of young people with schizophrenia

This study explored the initial results of a family-aided vocational rehabilitation program for young people with schizophrenia in The Netherlands. Their parents act as 'job-finders" and traineeship providers. The traineeships obtained for the participants reflect their interests and capabilities, and the participants reported an increase in self-esteem. Some trainees entered paid employment within one year. The results suggest that family involvement, if it is tailored to individual possibilities and combined with key elements of the Individual Placement and Support model, can make a useful contribution to the vocational rehabilitation of young people with schizophrenia.