90001-Study of Year Up Pro
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Population in focus: what works for young adults?
For more information about the interventions covered in this profile, use the hyperlinks in Exhibit 1 below.
Overview
Are you looking for the best ways to support the young adults you serve? Young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 can face unique challenges and opportunities as they transition into the labor market. This Population in Focus page summarizes what we know about how labor market outcomes for young adults experiencing economic hardship are affected by interventions that aim to improve their education, employment, and economic self-sufficiency.
What works?
As of April 2023, the Pathways Clearinghouse identified 14 interventions that served young adults and had at least one study with evidence rated high or moderate. These 14 interventions were described in 14 studies. Across all interventions measuring impacts on a given outcome domain—earnings, employment, public benefit receipt, and education and training—the interventions with the largest long-term effects and a supported rating were the following:
Earnings
Year Up had the largest effects on long-term annual earnings (an average of $12,466 per year). Year Up offered training and work experience in the information technology and investment operations fields to young adults to help them access careers with good pay and advancement opportunities.
Employment
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe had the largest effects on long-term employment (an average of 6 percentage points). The ChalleNGe Program aimed to improve the lives of youth who were out of school and under- or unemployed by providing education, positive youth development, and mentorship.
Public benefit receipt
Teenage Parent Demonstration had the largest effects on long-term benefit receipt (decreasing the amount of public benefits received by $282 per year). The Teenage Parent Demonstration provided education, training, and supportive services to teenage first-time parents who were recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).
Effects on long-term benefit receipt
$282
Decrease long-term benefit receipt
Education and training
Transition WORKS had the largest effects on education and training (increasing the attainment of a degree or credential by an average of 28 percentage points). Transition WORKS aimed to empower youth receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and improve their economic self-sufficiency through a series of workshops focused on self-determination, education and employment services, case management, financial incentives, work-based experience, and job development.
3168-Study of JOBSTART
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Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project
To further build the evidence around effective strategies for helping individuals with low incomes find and sustain employment, OPRE contracted with Mathematica to conduct the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project. This project will identify and test innovative, promising employment interventions designed to help individuals facing complex challenges secure a pathway toward economic independence. These challenges may be physical and mental health conditions, substance misuse, a criminal history, or limited work skills and experience.
Young Parent Demonstration (YPD) Plus Mentoring as compared with YPD
Intervention (standard name)
Enhanced services for the YPD Plus Mentoring participants varied across sites but often included several hours of one-on-one mentoring services, individualized mentee support, or group workshops, in addition to YPD services. The duration of services varied by site. One site offered 2 to 12 weeks of work readiness classes followed by employment assistance, while another offered a 15-month weekly peer group workshops focusing on educational attainment, technological skills development, workforce readiness, and career exploration.
28276-Study of Young Pare
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Asset-Building Services—Postsecondary Education Services
Intervention (standard name)
Postsecondary Education Services included college or vocational training, counseling, tutoring, and preparation for college entrance exams through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States. Intervention participants also could receive any other CFCIP-offered services, including other asset-building services such as budgeting and financial education.
Asset-Building Services—Budgeting and Financial Education Services
Intervention (standard name)
Budgeting and Financial Education Services included providing information about financial assets and asset building, such as how to open a savings account, and information about taxes and tax filing assistance through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States.
Youth Villages LifeSet (YVLifeSet)
Intervention (standard name)
Youth formerly in state custody (foster care or the juvenile justice system) received customized case management that included weekly meetings with a transitional living specialist who used motivational interviewing and provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy services as needed. Participants also received soft-skills training, supportive services, and other services to encourage independent living, education, and work.