101036.06-Study of Generating

Study Name

Study of Generating Opportunities to Attain Lifelong Success

Study Sharepoint ID

101036.06

Evaluation name

Evaluation of Pilot Projects to Promote Work and Increase State Accountability in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Kansas

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

Transportation assistance

Tuition assistance/financial aid

Work supports

Basic skills/bridge programs

Job development

Job placement

Job readiness

Job search assistance

Soft skills training

Employer-focused retention strategies

Occupational or sectoral training

Populations targeted

Public benefits recipients

Adults (age 25+)

Unemployed

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

Percent Young Adults

13.20

Percent female

60.90

Percent Male

39.10

Percent No high school diploma or GED

23.20

Percent With a high school diploma or GED

76.80

Percent Employed

16.10

Percent Unemployed

83.90

Percent welfare population

100.00

Percent Asian

0.60

Percent Black or African American

23.50

Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race

15.60

Percent White not Hispanic

51.40

Percent More than one race

6.70

Percent another race

2.20

Percent Adults

86.80

Percent Old Adults

18.10

Percent English Learner

3.60

Percent Postsecondary credential

20.20

Mean age

37.40

Study Characteristics

Group formation formatted

The Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) enrolled 4,170 individuals into the pilot and randomized roughly half to the GOALS group and the other half to the control group.

Study timing formatted

Three years

Study funding formatted

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Service, Contract Number AG-3198-B-15-0002/12319818F0080

Sample Characteristics

GOALS targeted new and current work registrants.

Implementing organization formatted

Kansas Department for Children and Families in partnership with the University of Kansas and Center for Public Partnerships in Research

Program history

GOALS was one of 10 pilot programs across the country authorized and funded by the Agricultural Act of 2014 to offer enhanced SNAP E&T services to help connect SNAP participants to employment opportunities.

Treatment condition formatted

Generating Opportunities to Attain Lifelong Success (GOALS) provided access to case management, job readiness and job search assistance, job development, basic education, occupational skills training, mental health and substance use disorder counseling, support services, and employment retention services.

Comparison condition formatted

The control group was eligible for existing SNAP E&T services and any employment and training services available in the community. Kansas offered limited services through its existing voluntary SNAP E&T program (except in the Southeast region where SNAP E&T was not available), including limited occupational skills training, primarily in Certified Nursing Assistantships, potential referrals to GED services and local workforce development centers for training, and limited support services.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Timing of study formatted

Average length of participation was 7 months

Program funding formatted

Federal SNAP Pilot Funding

Setting details formatted

35 counties in Kansas

Delivered by public or private entity?

Public

Secondary domains examined

The study reports impacts on food security, health, well-being, and housing status.