Youth assigned to the comparison group were given information on services available in the community that they could pursue on their own. Youth in the comparison group were prohibited from enrolling in the YouthBuild program for two years after random assignment but were able to access similar services in their communities.
The average cost per participant was $16,965. The cost per YouthBuild participant was $12,820 higher than the per-person cost of comparison services. YouthBuild’s benefit to society was estimated to be $1,418 to $50,241 per participant, primarily based on a wide range of estimates of participants’ future earnings.
Study enrollment took place from August 2011 through January 2013, and individuals were followed for four years after enrollment, including for more than two years after ending program participation.
YouthBuild provided four primary categories of services that were designed to reengage disconnected youth in employment and education:
- Educational services that would lead to a high school diploma or equivalent credential.
- Vocational training in construction or another in-demand industry (for example, health care, computer technology, or culinary arts).
- Youth development services focused on leadership training and community service.
- Additional services that would broadly help individuals participate in training and secure employment. On average, programs provided stipends of $467 every four weeks for program participation. Additional services included supportive services, such as assistance with transportation or child care; one-on-one case management; workforce preparation; life skills training; counseling; and follow-up services.
The program was designed so individual programs could fit the model into their community context. Programs reported that the economic downturn around the time of the study made it challenging to identify opportunities for vocational training in construction. Programs also felt that staffing was a challenge, as training staff often felt overburdened by too many responsibilities and the fluctuating number of participants. Finally, many staff and participants stated that difficulty finding transportation was a barrier to attendance for participants.
The study authors measured fidelity using a tool that rated local programs on 61 (of 132) design standards required by YouthBuild USA and combined the ratings for each program for a final score that ranged from 0 to 100. Overall fidelity was high, with most programs receiving a final score of at least 80.
All programs included in the evaluation received funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Corporation for National and Community Service, or both. The programs supplemented these funds with financial support from private foundations and state or local entities.
YouthBuild was tested in multiple settings. The 75 programs that participated in the study were in 29 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC. About half of the programs were in or near major urban centers, and about one-fifth were in rural areas.
YouthBuild USA is a national organization that provides technical assistance, training, funding assistance, and program fidelity support to programs across the YouthBuild network. During the study period, most YouthBuild programs were implemented by local or regional nonprofit organizations. Implementing organizations included community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Programs often partnered with external organizations to offer training opportunities, including construction training. The YouthBuild model also required programs to partner with postsecondary educational institutions. Finally, many YouthBuild programs partnered with colleges so participants could access college coursework.
YouthBuild served disconnected youth with low income. All individuals enrolled were ages 16 to 24. To be eligible for YouthBuild, most participants needed to have left high school without a diploma and meet at least one of the following additional criteria: be from a low-income or migrant family, be currently in or aging out of foster care, have prior justice system involvement, have a disability, or have an incarcerated parent. The majority of participants were male (64 percent) and Black or African American, not Hispanic (63 percent). Fifteen percent were Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 15 percent were White, not Hispanic. The average age was 20, and 30 percent were parents. The majority of participants had dropped out of high school after completing the 10th (26 percent) or 11th (35 percent) grade. Participation was voluntary.
Most programs were 6 to 12 months long, with an initial Mental Toughness Orientation lasting an average of 10 days. On average, participants remained in the program for 8 months. Participants could receive follow-up services for up to 12 months after completing the program.
Programs had about 10 staff members each, on average. Staffing structures varied across the programs, and programs often had flexible staffing arrangements. Small programs often required staff to fill multiple roles, whereas larger programs typically had more staff who were able to specialize in one role. Some programs did not maintain stability in their staffing arrangements, largely because of challenges securing funding. The study authors did not include information on staff training, degrees, or certifications.