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Participants were eligible for the study if they were at least 18 years of age, received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families assistance at the time of random assignment or met the study's definition of having a low income, held their high school diploma or GED, were eligible to work in the United States, and were residents of San Diego County. Participants were also required to achieve a minimum score on a basic skills exam. A total of 1,007 eligible people were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (507) or to the comparison condition (500) from July 2012 to October 2013.
Random assignment occurred from July 2012 to October 2013, and follow-up occurred 18 months and 3 years after random assignment.
ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About one-third (32 percent) of the research sample was age 24 or younger, another one-third (32 percent) was ages 25 to 34, and one-third (36 percent) was 35 years of age or older. Most participants were female (84 percent). Nearly half of the sample (47 percent) was Hispanic, about one-fifth (22 percent) was Black, and about one-fifth (20 percent) was White. Only 4 percent lacked a high school diploma or the equivalent certification, and most (60 percent) had at least some postsecondary education.
Three community-based organizations (Comprehensive Training Services, Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee, and North County Lifeline) implemented the program.
Bridge to Employment was established in 2010 through a Health Profession Opportunity Grant. It began offering services about two years before the start of randomization into the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education study in July 2012. The program ended in September 2015 when its Health Profession Opportunity Grant ended.
Bridge to Employment in the Healthcare Industry participants were residents of San Diego County with low incomes who were interested in occupations in the health care field. Participants first met with a counselor who helped them select a training program that was a strong fit. Training programs could be any accredited training program in San Diego County within three occupational health care groups: patient care, technical, or administrative. The counselor also identified any participation barriers participants might face and connected them to appropriate supportive services (worth up to $1,000), such as transportation or child care assistance. Participants received Individual Training Accounts, which were funds to cover the cost of the training. The program offered up to $7,000 in funding for most training programs, but up to $10,000 was offered for certain fields. Finally, the program provided employment services and job search assistance after participants completed their training programs.
People in the comparison condition could access training programs offered in the community. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients in the comparison group also received case management, certain supportive services, and employment services.
None
People received services for an average of 4.9 months.
ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The study took place in San Diego County, CA. Community-based organizations provided the services.
Psychosocial skills, life stressors, child outcomes, parental engagement, and family economic well-being