Study Details | Pathways to Work

101010.06-Study of Texas Conse

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: Texas Conservation Corps

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, On-the-job training, Stipends, Transportation assistance

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

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 American Youthworks Texas Conservation Corps 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

23 years

Sex

Female	46%
Male	54%

Participant race and ethnicity

Black or African American	2%
White, not Hispanic	60%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	12%
Asian	3%
Another race	3%
More than one race	2%
Unknown, not reported, or other	18%

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	93%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	4%

Specific employment barriers

Were involved with the justice system	12%
Were military veterans	5%

Intervention implementation

Implementing organization:

American YouthWorks Texas Conservation Corps

Intervention services:

Texas Conservation Corps provided training for youth age 17 to 28 in environmental management and safety through work experience in parks, nature trails, wildlife habitats, and disaster relief. For participants who need to complete their high school diploma or equivalency, the program provides on-site academic services. The program provides a variety of support services, including case management and counseling, re-entry services for justice-involved youth, transportation and child-care assistance, and stipends for program participation.

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 Texas Conservation Corps.

Study publications

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Study of Texas Conservation Corps