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Subgroups
The HPOG programs aimed to recruit people with low incomes to participate in the study. To be considered eligible for the study at all programs, people had to have low income, as indicated by receiving public benefits or having income below a threshold based on the federal poverty line. (The threshold varied by program.) Most programs also required people to have some minimal level of basic skills, and many conducted criminal background checks and evaluated applicants' interests and skills to determine eligibility. Eligible people were randomly assigned to intervention and comparison groups from March 2013 to November 2014. For 20 of 23 grantees, 2 people were assigned to the intervention group for every person assigned to the comparison group. In 19 programs operated by 10 grantees, people in the intervention group were also assigned with equal probability to receive enhanced or standard services. This study review examines the contrast of the entire intervention and comparison groups. Other reviews examine those in the intervention group that were or were not eligible for enhanced services.
The study randomly assigned participants from March 2013 to November 2014 and collected data at 15 months, 3 years, and 6 years after random assignment.
ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The HPOG programs aimed to recruit Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients and other people with low incomes. Across all 42 programs, 89 percent of study participants were female, 63 percent had one or more children, and 84 percent were not married. About one-quarter (24 percent) were Hispanic, and about one-third (34 percent) were Black and not Hispanic. The average age was 32. At baseline, 12 percent of participants lacked a high school diploma or equivalent certification, whereas 20 percent had a postsecondary degree or certificate. Forty-three percent were working, and 26 percent were in school. Fifty-six percent received the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and 13 percent received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Multiple organizations implemented HPOG programs, including community and technical colleges, local workforce agencies, state agencies, and nonprofit institutions.
Programs received grants about 2.5 years before the study began. Many had a long history of providing employment and training services.
This study examines the effects of 42 local programs funded by HPOG to 23 grantees. Each of the 42 HPOG programs had flexibility in developing unique programs based on local community needs but used ACF guidelines. Programs were required to (1) develop skills relevant to the health care industry; (2) support career pathways through flexible delivery, multiple entry and exit points, successive levels of education and training, and work-based learning; (3) provide training leading to credentials recognized by employers and the health care industry; (4) provide supportive services to help participants overcome barriers to employment and training participation; and (5) provide training at accessible times and locations. The most common occupational training programs were six- to eight-week courses to become a nursing aide, orderly, or attendant, but a diverse array of programs in the health care industry were offered. Programs typically offered pre-training activities, such as orientations, basic skills classes, computer and financial literacy classes, and soft skills training. Many programs also provided prerequisite courses in health-related subjects such as biology. Participants could also receive a variety of supportive services, including the following: case management; academic supports (academic and career counseling, mentoring, peer support groups, and tutoring); financial assistance for training and employment expenses such as child care and transportation; assistance with household expenses; tuition assistance; and employment services, including job search assistance, employment retention assistance, job development and placement, and counseling. In several programs, a randomly selected subset of the intervention group received enhanced services. Enhanced services included emergency assistance to cover unexpected expenses, noncash incentives (such as a gift card for completing a course), and facilitated peer support groups.
The comparison group did not have access to the HPOG programs but could access similar services in the community. Often, comparison group members could enroll in the same vocational training programs as the intervention group but without the financial and other assistance offered to the intervention group.
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Trainings varied greatly in length, from six weeks to four years. Most people enrolled in short-term programs (six to eight weeks), but the career pathways approach encouraged people to enroll in multiple programs over time.
ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The study examined 23 different grantees and 42 programs, located across the United States.
Job quality, employment barriers, self-efficacy, financial hardship, psychological well-being, and child development and well-being