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Summary

Resources to Initiate Successful Employment (RISE) offered enhanced services including comprehensive case management, extensive wraparound and support services, a mandatory life skills course called Strategies for Success (SfS), and work-based learning opportunities, targeting SNAP work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work) with multiple or critical barriers to employment.

Participants initially completed a barrier assessment and plan for being able to take part in RISE activities. The required SfS course consisted of six modules targeting work skills, health and well-being, communication, building personal strengths, and community engagement. Depending on goals, participants who completed SfS then participated in education and occupational skills training, work-based learning opportunities, or job search and placement assistance. RISE providers offered case management throughout the program focused on mentoring, career coaching, and reducing barriers to employment through support services.

The initial phase of barrier assessment and resolution ranged between a few weeks and several months. The SfS course lasted for six weeks. The work-based learning program lasted up to 240 hours. RISE case managers were required to make contact at least weekly.

The program was implemented in four counties in the state of Washington.

101036.13-Study of Resources t
Populations and employment barriers: Adults (age 25+), Public benefits recipients, 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 $-73 per year -0.002 4466
Long-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $73 per year 0.002 4466
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 1% (in percentage points) 0.020 4466
Long-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 0% (in percentage points) 0.004 4466
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Supported favorable $-69 per year -0.020 4466
Long-term Supported favorable $-110 per year -0.032 4466
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

Dates covered by study

Study enrollment ran from February 2016 to March 2018, with pilot services ending in December 2018. Study data collection occurred from February 2016 to December 2020, with outcomes measured with survey and administrative data over a three-year follow-up period.

Organizations implementing program

Washington Department of Social and Health Services; State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Washington Employment Security Department; Washington Division of Child Support; local workforce development councils; 21 community-based organizations; three community and technical colleges

Populations served

The program targeted work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work) who were long-term unemployed, experiencing homelessness, veterans, noncustodial parents with child support arrears, or with limited English proficiency, and who had at least one critical or three general barriers to employment. Most participants were unemployed (92 percent). The majority of participants had a high school diploma or GED (73 percent) and were male (57 percent).

Description of services implemented

RISE services included:

  • Strategies for Success (SfS). SfS was a six-module required course that covered work concepts, health and well-being, communication, personal strength identification, and community engagement.
  • Education and occupational skills training. Individuals who needed basic skills or who were not proficient in English could access adult basic education services. Individuals who had goals for postsecondary education or occupational skills training could access these programs through local community colleges or in-house training programs among some providers.
  • Work-based learning. Participants could complete up to 240 hours of work-based learning after completing SfS. Providers targeted these opportunities to individuals who had a particular skill they needed to learn, a gap in work history, or a specific request for this type of opportunity.
  • Job search and placement assistance. RISE case managers provided assistance with resume writing, employment identification, and interview strategies, typically after completion of SfS and any work-based learning opportunities pursued.
  • Comprehensive case management and support services. RISE case management included mentoring, coaching, and support services to reduce barriers to employment. Support services include assistance with transportation, basic education and training expenses, clothing, child care, housing, and medical services not covered by insurance. RISE case managers also referred individuals with child support arrears to the Alternative Solutions program administered by Washington's Division of Child Support. This program provided education on child support policies, assistance signing up for child support payment plans, support for family reunification, and assistance with legal and debt issues.

Service intensity

The average length of participation was seven months. The initial phase of barrier assessment and resolution ranged between a few weeks and several months. The SfS course lasted for six weeks. The work-based learning program lasted up to 240 hours. Occupational skills training programs could last three to nine months. RISE case managers were required to make contact at least weekly.

Comparison conditions

The comparision group was eligible for any employment and training services available in the community. Washington's existing SNAP Employment and Training program (Basic Food and Employment Training) offered job readiness training, basic skills/English as a second language training, occupational skills training, job search assistance, job placement, and participant reimbursement for support services.

Partnerships

The program was administered by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). DSHS contracted 22 community-based organizations and three community colleges to conduct intake and service delivery as well as with the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD), Washington Division of Child Support, the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, and local workforce development councils.

Staffing

ESD staff delivered the SfS class. Staff at local community colleges and community-based organizations delivered the education and training programs. Case managers at RISE provider organizations delivered the intensive case management and job search and placement assistance support.

Fidelity measures

The study did not describe any measures of program fidelity.

Funding source

The program was funded by federal SNAP Employment and Training Pilot demonstration funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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 four counties in the state of Washington.

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
25%
White, not Hispanic
44%
Asian
2%
Another race
7%
More than one race
8%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
14%

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

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