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Summary

The Work Opportunity Networks to Develop Employment Readiness (WONDER) program provided industry-specific training and subsidized employment in one of four service tracks (construction, culinary arts, manufacturing, job placement services) in addition to job placement assistance, job readiness assistance, intensive case management, support services and existing state SNAP employment and training services.

Participants first met with an outreach specialist for an intensive intake and assessment process to develop an individualized career plan and select one of the four program tracks. Participants could also be referred to other providers for assistance with expunging criminal records or financial literacy education.

Participants received services for four to five months, on average, with at least weekly contact with a case manager. The construction track provided pre-apprenticeship training with two to three weeks of classroom training and two to three weeks of field training before entering employment or apprenticeship. The culinary arts training consisted of 12 weeks of classroom and hands-on training and 25 weeks of post-program wraparound services. The manufacturing track included self-directed certified production training followed by placement in an entry-level position for a 90-day trial period after completing certification. The job placement services track involved working with job placement specialists to build job skills and readiness.

The program targeted all SNAP participants in the state of Delaware.

101036.03-Study of Work Opport
Populations and employment barriers: Public benefits recipients, Unemployed

Implementation at a glance

Primary service
Program services
Case management, Childcare and/or early education, Financial education, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Legal assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives, Pre-apprenticeship training, Subsidized employment/transitional jobs, Work supports
Review services terms
Setting(s)
Tested in multiple settings
Year evaluation began
2016
Implementing organization(s)Delaware Department of Social Services; Eastside Rising; Food Bank of Delaware; Delaware Technical Community College; PolyTech Adult Education; KraftHeinz; Career TEAM

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 Little evidence to assess support unfavorable $-693 per year -0.019 5344
Long-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable $-146 per year -0.004 5344
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 0% (in percentage points) 0.002 5344
Long-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable -1% (in percentage points) -0.014 5344
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Not supported unfavorable $117 per year 0.034 5344
Long-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable $72 per year 0.021 5344
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 1
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Program cost

No cost information available.

Cost results

Estimate (in 2024 dollars) Quality of cost analysis that produced the estimate
Total program cost, per participant $3,646
Outstanding quality
Net benefit to participants, per participant -$702
Outstanding quality

Cost information

How much did the program cost per participant? 

The average total program cost per participant was $3,464 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 net benefit to participants was -$702 per participant in 2024 dollars. This means that the net program benefit to participants (difference in benefits between the program and comparison group) was $702 less than the net cost of the program to participants. 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 was -$1,037 per participant in 2024 dollars. The net benefit to society was -$1,739 per participant 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
50%
White, not Hispanic
39%
Asian
1%
Another race
1%
More than one race
3%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
8%

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

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Canada

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.