Study Details | Pathways to Work

101010.03-Study of Capital IDE

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that does not demonstrate that the intervention and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the intervention.

Intervention: Capital IDEA Workforce Development Programs and Services

Population and employment barriers:

Educational attainment (At least a high school diploma or equivalent)

Services provided:

Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Childcare and/or early education, Financial education, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Transportation assistance, Tuition assistance/financial aid

Setting: Urban only

Study design

Design:

Quasi-experimental design

Study group formation:

The study uses a quasi-experimental design, in which eligible participants with a valid SSN who exited from the Capital IDEA program between 2016 to 2023 were matched to a comparison group of Travis County residents who received standard workforce services.

Time period of study:

2016-2024

Pathways only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

Age

Mean age

34 years

Sex

Female	71%
Male	29%

Participant race and ethnicity

Black or African American	21%
White, not Hispanic	34%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	34%
Asian	4%
Another race	1%
More than one race	2%
Unknown, not reported, or other	6%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

Participant education

Had a high school diploma or GED	98%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	1%

Specific employment barriers

Were involved with the justice system	6%
Were military veterans	1%

Intervention implementation

Implementing organization:

Services were provided by Capital IDEA, a community-based organization in Travis County, Texas

Intervention services:

Capital IDEA Workforce Development Programs and Services included workforce development training for high-demand occupations such as healthcare, information technology, and professional trades. Services are targeted to participants age 18 years or older who meet reading and math skills requirements and have a High School diploma or equivalent, but do not have a college degree.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

Comparison group members received limited employment services from a Workforce Solutions Career Center in Travis County, but did not receive the additional services provided by Capital IDEA

Study publications

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Study of Capital IDEA Workforce Development Programs and Services