WOW placed participants in specific training courses, based on standardized testing, that either provided basic education and skills training or specific technical training. Participants who scored at the sixth- or seventh-grade level on standardized testing enrolled in an 11-week basic educational skills and employability development course, followed by three weeks of unpaid work. Participants who scored at the eighth-grade level or above on standardized testing enrolled in a 22-week course covering basic elements of electromechanics, followed by an 11-week course on employability topics. Counselors helped participants set specific employment and training goals and helped them overcome life crises. WOW also helped participants find and pay for child care. Length of services varied depending on the participant’s specific training course, but most participants stopped receiving services after 12 months. WOW services were available to non-white single mothers who had low incomes. The intervention was implemented in a community-based organization in Washington, DC.
Summary
WOW provided general employability preparation and basic skills and technical training courses to help non-white single parents with low incomes find nontraditional, high-paying occupations.
Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain
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| Outcome domain | Term | Effectiveness rating | Effect in 2018 dollars and percentages | Effect in standard deviations | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase earnings | Short-term |  |
|||
| Long-term | 
|
$0 per year | 0.000 | 0 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase employment | Short-term |
|
0% (in percentage points)
|
-0.006 | 1272 |
| Long-term |
|
4% (in percentage points)
|
0.104 | 1225 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase education and training | All measurement periods | |
Effectiveness rating key:
-
Well-supported
-
Supported
-
Not supported
-
Mixed support
-
Insufficient evidence
-
No evidence
Studies of this intervention
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 High
|
1 |
Implementation details
Cost information
The average cost per participant was $4,838 in 2018 dollars.
This figure is based on cost information reported by authors of the study or studies the Pathways Clearinghouse reviewed for this intervention. The Pathways Clearinghouse converted that information to a single amount expressed in 2018 dollars; for details, see the FAQ. Where there are multiple studies of an intervention rated high or moderate quality, the Pathways Clearinghouse computed the average of costs reported across those studies.
Cost information is not directly comparable across interventions due to differences in the categories of costs reported and the amount of time interventions lasted. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
State(s) where implemented
The Pathways Clearinghouse refers to interventions by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some intervention names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.