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Youth who received SSA disability benefits, lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and were ages 16 to 22 were eligible for the study. Researchers used SSA administrative data to randomly select eligible youth and then contacted them for baseline interviews and consent until they met enrollment targets. If youth participated in interviews and provided consent, they were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to the intervention and comparison groups. Recruitment occurred from April 2008 to September 2010.
People were enrolled in the study from April 2008 to September 2010 and followed for three years thereafter.
SSA
The study focused on people ages 16 to 22 who received SSA disability benefits. The sample was 60 percent male, 52 percent Black, 42 percent Hispanic (of any race), and 36 percent White. At baseline, about two-thirds (65 percent) had never worked for pay, 97 percent received Supplemental Security Income, and 89 percent received public health insurance. The average age of participants was 19, and, at baseline, one-third had a high school diploma or equivalent certification and 56 percent were attending school. All people in the study had a disability, with cognitive or developmental disabilities (43 percent) and learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders (21 percent) reported most often as an individual’s primary disabling condition.
ServiceSource implemented the intervention in partnership with Human Services Coalition, the YWCA, and Partners for Self-Employment.
The program began as a pilot in January 2007, and the full project launch occurred in April 2008.
Broadened Horizons, Brighter Futures served youth ages 16 to 22 who received SSA disability benefits and lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The program provided services to youth with severe disabilities with the goal of improving their employment outcomes, emphasizing linkages between education and work-based experiences, and coordinating health and social services. To this end, services included person-centered career and benefits planning; employment services such as career preparation, soft-skills training, job search assistance, job development and placement, apprenticeships, internships, and paid and unpaid employment; benefits planning and counseling and financial literacy workshops; education support (such as counseling and advising); and case management with a goal of reducing barriers to employment (including the provision of supportive services). The program also offered follow-up services after a participant obtained employment. Finally, participants were eligible to receive matching funds in individual development accounts (bank accounts with funds dedicating to starting a business, educational expenses, purchasing a car, or purchasing or repairing a home) and waivers to SSA program rules, which increased the amount of earnings that are disregarded in calculating benefits for those still enrolled in school or career exploration; decreased the rate at which benefits are reduced as earnings increase; extended benefits for those who could face losing them at age 18 or when their case was re-reviewed; and excluded certain financial accounts from asset calculations.
Youth in the comparison condition could receive other services available in the community.
None.
Participants could receive services for up to 18 months, but the project continued to serve many participants past 18 months up until the project ended in March 2012.
SSA
The project took place in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Attitudes and expectations, Independence, Job characteristics, Health insurance, Criminal justice, Living arrangements