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Summary

California Bridge Academy provided enhanced SNAP Employment and Training Services, including 18 months of intensive case management, GED preparation classes, referrals to occupational skills training or postsecondary education, subsidized employment, job search assistance, support services, and financial incentives for upgrading skills and remaining in services.

Participants met with a career and family navigator to complete an intake assessment and create an individual client and family plan. Participants were required to complete job readiness workshops in order to be referred to education, occupational skills training, or subsidized employment opportunities.

The program targeted SNAP work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were therefore required to register for work) who were unemployed or underemployed and faced barriers to employment. The program was implemented in Fresno County, CA.

101036.01-Study of California
Populations and employment barriers: Adults (age 25+), Public benefits recipients
101036.02-Study of California
Populations and employment barriers: Adults (age 25+), Public benefits recipients

Implementation at a glance

Primary service
Job readiness
Program services
Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Paid work experience/internships, Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives, Post-employment participant follow-up, Subsidized employment/transitional jobs, Transportation assistance, Work supports
Review services terms
Setting(s)
Tested in multiple settings
Year evaluation began
2016
Implementing organization(s)Reading and Beyond; Fresno County Economic Development Corporation

Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain

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Outcome domain Term Effectiveness rating Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages Effect in standard deviations Sample size
Increase earnings Short-term Not supported favorable $547 per year 0.015 5692
Long-term Not supported favorable $109 per year 0.003 5692
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Not supported favorable 1% (in percentage points) 0.024 5692
Long-term Not supported favorable 0% (in percentage points) 0.002 5692
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Mixed support favorable $-89 per year -0.026 5692
Long-term Not supported unfavorable $3 per year 0.001 5692
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase education and training All measurement periods Cannot assess support

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
High High 2
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Program cost

No cost information available.

Cost results

Estimates (in 2024 dollars) Quality of cost analysis that produced the estimates
Total program cost, per participant $7,250
Outstanding quality
Net benefit to participants, per participant $93–$1,078
Outstanding quality

Cost information

How much did the program cost per participant? 

The average total program cost per participant was $7,250 in 2024 dollars. This figure is based on cost information for this program reported in one cost study reviewed by Pathways to Work (for details, see the FAQ). This study received a rating of Outstanding quality for the cost analysis.

How much did the program cost relative to the benefits it generated? 

A cost-benefit analysis was conducted in the cost study reviewed, receiving a rating of Outstanding quality. The cost-benefit analysis was conducted for two separate comparison groups—existing services (ES) and no services (NS). The net benefit to participants ranged from $93 per participant in the ES comparison to $1,078 per participant in the NS comparison in 2024 dollars. This means that the net program benefit to participants (difference in benefits between the program and comparison group) was $93 more than the net cost of the program to participants in the ES comparison and $1,078 more than the net cost of the program to participants in the NS comparison. The estimate is expressed as the net present value, which accounts for differences in the timing of when benefits and costs occurred. In addition, the net benefit to government ranged from -$5,542 per participant in the NS comparison to -$3,343 per participant in the ES comparison in 2024 dollars. The net benefit to society ranged from -$4,465 per participant in the NS comparison to -$3,250 per participant in the ES comparison in 2024 dollars.

Cost information is not directly comparable across programs due to differences in the categories of costs reported and program length. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.

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Implementation details

The information contained here reflects how the program was implemented at the time of the evaluation.

Local context

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
13%
White, not Hispanic
15%
Asian
4%
Another race
1%
More than one race
4%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
61%

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.

State(s) where implemented

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Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.