7730-Study of Youth Villa

Study Name

Youth Villages LifeSet (YVLifeSet)

Study Sharepoint ID

7730

Evaluation name

Youth Villages Transitional Living Evaluation

This study received a high study quality rating because it is a low-attrition randomized controlled trial with no known issues that suggest the findings cannot be attributed to the intervention.

Design

Randomized controlled trial

Services

Case management

Soft skills training

Supportive services

Populations targeted

Young adults (aged 16-24)

Settings in which the intervention was studied

Tested in multiple settings

Demographics

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female

Subgroup data - Male

Subgroup data - White

Subgroup data - Black

Count age

Count Young Adults

Count Hard-to-employ

Count Disability

Count chronically ill

Count mentally ill

Count substance dependent

Count formerly incarcerated

Count Justice involved

Count limited work history

Count homeless

Count immigrants

Count refugees

Count veterans

Count female

Count Male

Count Any postsecondary education

Count With a high school diploma or GED

Count No high school diploma or GED

Count Married

Count Parents

Count Single Parents

Count Non-Custodial Parents

Count Employed

Count Self employed

Count Unemployed

Count Disconnected/discouraged workers

Count general low-income population

Count Very low income (as classified by the authors)

Count welfare population

Count long-term welfare recipients

Count Asian

Count Black or African American

Count Hispanic or Latino of any race

Count American Indian or Alaska Native

Count Pacific islander

Count White

Count White not Hispanic

Count More than one race

Count Unknown race

Count another race

Percent Young Adults

100.00

Percent female

48.00

Percent Male

52.00

Percent No high school diploma or GED

17.00

Percent With a high school diploma or GED

57.30

Percent Married

6.00

Percent Employed

42.80

Percent Unemployed

19.20

Percent Black or African American

37.10

Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race

5.80

Percent White not Hispanic

51.10

Study Characteristics

Group formation formatted

From October 2010 to October 2012, youth in state custody (through the child protection system or the juvenile justice system) who were near their 18th birthday and interested in the program met with program staff, completed a consent form, and were randomly assigned to the YVLifeSet condition or a comparison condition. Applicants were eligible for the study if they had been in state custody for at least one year after age 14, or had been in state custody while age 17; did not have histories of severe violence, mental health problems, drug use, or developmental delays; and were deemed capable of living independently with support. A total of 1,322 people were randomly assigned to the intervention group (788) or the comparison group (534).

Study timing formatted

The program was studied over two years.

Study funding formatted

The YVLifeSet evaluation was funded by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sample Characteristics

People involved in the study were ages 18 to 24, with most (71 percent) age 18 at the start of the study. About half (51 percent) were White, not Hispanic; 40 percent were still enrolled in high school; and 17 percent did not have a high school diploma or GED and were not enrolled in school.

Implementing organization formatted

Youth Villages

Program history

YVLifeSet (originally called Youth Villages Transitional Living Program) was developed in 1999 by Youth Villages in Memphis, TN.

Treatment condition formatted

Youth in state custody (through the child protection system or the juvenile justice system) received individualized case management, including weekly meetings with a transitional living specialist. Transitional living specialists used practices such as motivational interviewing and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants also received soft skills training, supportive services, and other services to encourage independent living, education, and work.

Comparison condition formatted

Participants randomly assigned to the comparison group could not receive YVLifeSet services but received a list of other resources in the community.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Timing of study formatted

Participants typically received services for 9 to 12 months.

Program funding formatted

Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Day Foundation

Setting details formatted

Tennessee

Delivered by public or private entity?

Private

Secondary domains examined

Housing, economic hardship, social support, health, safety, and recidivism

Citations/manuscripts

Earliest publication year

2015

Most recent publication year

2019

Manuscripts

7730

26705

90008

SRG File Path

http://projects.mathematica.net/humanservices/W2WC_50703/Reviews/Shared Documen…

Check edits flag

Primary Service

Case management

Enrollment Period

October 2010 to October 2012

Intervention Duration

0.00

Subgroup data - Hispanic

Intervention Cost

$11825

Comparison cost