AO offered students career pathways culminating in one or more credentials in high-demand fields, including health care and manufacturing. Instructional courses were delivered at local colleges using team teaching of basic skills, CTE, and basic skills instruction delivered using meaningful content. AO also provided academic services, such as tutoring and academic advising, and supportive services, such as transportation and child care assistance, to students. The pathways consisted of about 12 academic credits. Most of the pathways lasted one academic year or less.

The program includes a comprehensive set of services and resources to advance participants’ education and employment.

The SCA Adult Demonstration Program provided a range of reentry services to adults who were recently incarcerated. Although the provision of services varied by location, all participants received individualized case management. Employment services were offered in all but one program location and included job-search and placement assistance; mentoring; and training that developed résumé writing, interviewing, and soft skills.

The Office of the Attorney General partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission and Title IV-D court (part of the state child support enforcement system) to administer the program with the goal of helping parents become more responsible parents and preventing them from falling behind on child support payments. Noncustodial parents were offered eight weekly, two-hour group workshops covering financial responsibility, parenting and co-parenting skills, and financial education.

HPOG aimed to prepare participants for careers in health care occupations that paid well and were expected to experience labor shortages or increased demand. HPOG 1.0—Noncash Incentives grantees provided standard HPOG services and, to a subset of participants, the option to receive noncash incentives worth up to $1,000 per person. These participants were able to earn points for achieving program milestones, such as completing key courses or obtaining or retaining employment.

HPOG aimed to prepare participants for careers in health care occupations that paid well and were expected to experience labor shortages or increased demand.

Next STEP participants received 2 weeks of work-readiness training and then worked with a job developer to search for a private job with subsidized wages. The subsidized job lasted for 16 weeks, with a full subsidy for 8 weeks and a half subsidy for the subsequent 8 weeks. All employers agreed to retain participants if they did well, and hired participants were invited to quarterly job retention meetings. In addition to subsidized employment, participants had access to case management, mental health services, financial incentives, and legal assistance.

Texas ERA began with an orientation followed by a four-day job-search workshop. After the workshop, participants spent four to six weeks searching for jobs. Those that did not find employment during this time were assigned to community service or volunteer positions. Participants who did find jobs became eligible for a $200 monthly stipend, as long as they were employed for at least 30 hours per week, participated in a post-employment advancement activity, or left TANF.

VIDA supported full-time enrollment in educational programs, including certificate programs, associate’s degree programs, or the last two years of coursework to receive a bachelor’s degree related to occupations that pay a living wage and are in high demand in the program’s local area. Participants received intensive, mandatory weekly counseling services focused on developing life skills, such as time management and budgeting, as well as skills to support success in participants’ education programs.

MEPs provided basic business training, facilitated access to financial capital and lending, and performed technical assistance for participants. The access to financial capital component included peer-to-peer lending, direct lending from the service organization, and guidance through the banking sector.