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Noncustodial parents were referred by case managers in the Division of Child Support Services' Children First program, the Division itself, criminal justice agencies, and YWCA's Career Opportunity Center. In order to reach their target recruitment number, noncustodial parents were also recruited from community businesses and organizations, from shelters, and through radio ads. Incentives (bus tickets) were also given to participants who made referrals. Individuals were eligible if they were noncustodial parents with child support orders; were unemployed; and were not job ready, which was defined as not having a high school diploma or equivalent, being long-term unemployed (12 weeks), not being continuously employed for 4 or more months in the past year, or having another barrier to employment such as a substance-abuse issue or pending criminal justice action. Potential participants were screened for eligibility and then invited to an information session. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the Supporting Families Through Work (SFTW) program or a comparison group. A total of 1,003 people were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (502) or the comparison group (501).
Evaluators randomly assigned people into groups for the study between November 2011 and December 2013. The study reports impacts up to 30 months after random assignment.
Employment and Training Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor and ACF
The study examined low-income, noncustodial parents. The majority were male (97 percent) and Black (93 percent). The average age was 35 years. At the time the study began, 5 percent were married, 34 percent had formerly been incarcerated, and 32 percent did not have a high school diploma.
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
The New Hope project was developed in 1991 and merged with YWCA Southeast Wisconsin in 2009. The SFTW program replaced the New Hope project.
The SFTW program served low-income, noncustodial parents. Participants first attended a job-readiness workshop for three to five days. During this time, participants took assessments and participated in job-readiness activities. Participants were then assigned a case manager, who helped participants become more job ready, helped participants develop soft skills, served as job coaches, and helped participants obtain supportive services. Participants were then matched with transitional jobs based on their skills and interests, and these jobs were subsidized to bring wages to $10 per hour for 30 hours per week. These transitional jobs could last up to six months, and then participants were expected to have found unsubsidized employment. Participants also received help with child support, including having interest accumulation frozen for debt owed to the state and having accrued interest forgiven in part or in whole, depending on the participant's progress in the program.
Comparison group members were able to participate in other services offered through YWCA, including a fatherhood group, career center, and FoodShare Employment and Training.
None.
Wages were subsidized for up to six months after finding transitional employment.
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
The program took place in Milwaukee, WI.
Child support and family relations, Material hardship, Criminal justice, Economic and personal well-being