Glossary

The probability that if there actually was no real effect of the program, a finding at least as large as the observed finding would have been obtained by chance. For example, a sample might show a positive average difference, suggesting that the program group has better outcomes than the comparison group, with a p-value of 0.05. The p-value means that there is a 5 percent chance that the positive finding for the program group occurred by chance and does not occur in the population.

Short-term, paid work experience designed by employers to orient participants to occupations within an industry, receive mentorship, and gain exposure to workplace culture. Internships may vary in length and are sometimes associated with young adults but are provided to other populations as well. Wages are paid by the employer.

An adult caregiver responsible for raising a child; can be a biological, adoptive, or step-parent.

Strategies that allow participants or former participants to give and receive help from one another. These strategies often connect participants with similar challenges to provide support in a non-clinical, non-hierarchical relationship.

Payments that participants receive for engaging in a specific activity or achieving a certain goal. These payments may also be used to incentivize continued program participation.

Personalized assistance provided by a staff person—such as a case manager, counselor, coach, navigator, or employment specialist—or another program participant who helps assess needs, refers or directly provides services to participants, and helps participants remain in compliance with program requirements (if appropriate). Although assistance is typically delivered one-on-one, it can be delivered in group settings as well.

The point of view taken when defining costs and benefits included in a study. Common perspectives taken include:

• Participants’ perspective: Includes only the costs and benefits borne by program participants and sometimes their families (e.g., the opportunity costs of time for students attending a workforce training program, who could otherwise be in the workforce).
• Program provider perspective: The subset of costs that accrue to the organization implementing a program. Sometimes this is referred to as “program costs.”
• Societal perspective: Takes into account the opportunity costs of all resources required to implement and operate a program, regardless of who pays for or contributes the resources. This perspective also accounts for program benefits to all stakeholders.

Services to support the physical health of participants. Services may include referrals to medical providers, community clinics, or medical debt relief programs or benefits.

Ongoing support provided directly to participants by program staff after a participant is employed to help them navigate issues or difficulties arising at work, manage barriers to their continued success, assess progress towards goals, or monitor job attendance.

Training designed to prepare participants to enter registered apprenticeship programs.

A program’s primary service is the principal service of the program. The primary service is (1) a component that a large proportion of program group members received and a large proportion of comparison group members did not receive, and (2) the component that was described by the study authors as most integral to the theory of change tested by the study. Programs may provide multiple services, but only one service is designated as primary.

A specific bundle of services or policies implemented in a given context. For the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse, programs are defined based on the services offered to the program group but not offered to the comparison group.

Percentage of people receiving public benefits (such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or the value of the benefits they receive.

People served by government programs that provide financial support and services to people with low incomes. These programs include TANF, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and subsidized or public housing.