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Summary

Jobs for Independence (JFI) provided comprehensive clinical assessment and counseling services, referrals to employment or training activities, and an offer of the Governor’s Career Readiness Certificate (GCRC), targeting new work registrant SNAP participants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work) with barriers to employment—including substance use or mental health disorders, housing instability, or criminal justice histories.

The four-module GCRC course included job readiness skills, computer skills, applied math, a WorkKey skills assessment, and job seeking skills. JFI offered referrals to basic and postsecondary education services and work-based learning opportunities. Participants deemed work-ready could receive job search assistance. Participants received ongoing team-based counseling services from multiple agencies.

Each GCRC module lasted one to two weeks and required in-person attendance at multiple half-day sessions per week. The work-based learning placements ranged in duration from several weeks to several months. Counseling assistance was available throughout program participation, initially starting with weekly meetings before transitioning to monthly meetings.

The program was implemented statewide in Vermont.

101036.12-Study of Jobs for In
Populations and employment barriers: Adults (age 25+), Public benefits recipients, At least a high school diploma or equivalent, Unemployed

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 $-328 per year -0.009 2756
Long-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $73 per year 0.002 2756
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 0% (in percentage points) 0.010 2756
Long-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 1% (in percentage points) 0.023 2756
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $-55 per year -0.016 2756
Long-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $-93 per year -0.027 2756
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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Implementation details

Organizations implementing program

Vermont Agency of Human Services, Economic Services Division; Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Vermont Department of Labor; Community College of Vermont; Vermont Association of Business Industry and Rehabilitation; community action agencies of Vermont

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

Local context

The providers and study site were located in the state of Vermont.

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
5%
White, not Hispanic
86%
Asian
1%
Another race
1%
More than one race
5%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
3%

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.