Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) for SUD recovery: A promising practice innovation to combat the opioid crisis

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological self-sufficiency (PSS) process among low-income individuals participating in the Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) program and explore the implications of TIP as a SUD recovery intervention. A sample of 622 individuals from 9 local job training programs in a large Midwestern city was used to examine the group differences in substance abuse barrier and employment hope as they relates to economic self-sufficiency (ESS). Individuals in the TIP program (n = 315) had statistically significant path coefficients between substance abuse barriers, employment hope and ESS while the non-TIP counterpart (n = 307) showed a significant path only between employment hope and ESS. Also, the time difference score in substance abuse barrier and ESS was greater for the TIP group compared to the non-TIP comparison group. Results provide implications for social work practice among persons with SUDs. While the traditional employment programs focused only on the interview and job skills, TIP allowed participants to discover their resources to address the inner obstacles that have been holding them back. TIP could serve as a promising model to treat SUDs and support the recovery process.

KEYWORDS:

• Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP)
• psychological self-sufficiency (PSS)
• substance use disorders
• opioid crisis
• recovery
• employment

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families(ACF), Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (OPRE) [90HG1003, 90PH0018]; Korea Foundation [2019-RF-020]; and Lloyd A. Fry Foundation.