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Subgroups
Youth who attended an information session and completed an application, a drug screening, and a series of interviews were randomly assigned to the intervention or comparison groups. Applicants were eligible for the study if they were ages 18 to 24, had a high school credential, and were not employed or in school full time. Each of the eight Year Up sites enrolled two cohorts of participants from January 2013 to August 2014. For every two applicants assigned to Year Up at each site, one was assigned to the comparison group; a total of 2,544 people were randomly assigned to the intervention group (1,669) or the comparison group (875).
Evaluators randomly assigned people into groups for the study from January 2013 to August 2014. The study reports impacts up to six years after random assignment.
The Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education evaluation was funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The study included youth with low incomes who lived in metropolitan areas. The majority were male (59 percent), Black (54 percent), and ages 20 to 24 (56 percent). About half only had a high school diploma or equivalent (52 percent), and the other half had some college experience (48 percent). Only 3 percent had an associate’s or more advanced degree. The average family income was $27,021. In the 12 months leading up to the study, one-third received benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. About half (48 percent) were not working at baseline, and most of the remainder (37 percent) worked fewer than 35 hours per week. Sixteen percent had experienced an arrest.
Year Up and local colleges
Year Up was founded in 2000, and the eight offices began implementing Year Up from 2001 to 2012.
The Year Up program included two phases: a 21-week learning and development phase and a 6-month internship phase. During the first phase, participants received occupational training in information technology, quality assurance, financial operations, project management, or customer service, as well as courses in professional and business communications. Classes were held six hours per day for four days of the week, and three hours per day for one day of the week. During the second phase, participants worked in internships for four and a half days per week and received training for a half day each week. During both phases, participants received weekly stipends. They could also receive employment assistance for four months after their internship, such as career counseling, job search assistance, and assistance developing a résumé. The program used a "high support, high expectations" philosophy, with frequent feedback during both phases, connections to other community supports, advising, and mentoring. Poor behavior could also result in reductions in stipends.
Those in the comparison group could not participate in Year Up for three years after random assignment, but they received a list of other available services in the community.
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Participants enrolled in 21 weeks of training and were placed in a 6-month, full-time internship. Participants continued to receive employment assistance for up to 4 months after graduating.
About 60 percent of Year Up's costs were covered by employers who paid the program in return for hosting program participants as interns. Twenty-two percent of program costs were supported by foundation grants, and 17 percent were funded through charitable contributions.
The program took place at eight sites in Atlanta, GA; San Francisco and San Jose, CA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; New York City, NY; Providence, RI; and Seattle, WA. Each site worked with a partner college to provide training to participants.
Psychosocial skills; family formation; health; health insurance; life challenges; stress; career progress; housing situation; financial health