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Summary

The Minority Female Single Parent (MFSP) program implemented by the Atlanta Urban League (AUL) provided low-income, minority, single mothers with adult basic education followed by occupational skills training and additional supports to prepare them for advanced training and employment.  

The MFSP program implemented by the Atlanta Urban League focused first on providing full-time adult basic education and GED instruction to women with poor reading, writing, or math skills, and then occupational skills training and additional supports once participants overcame academic barriers.

The MFSP program emphasized (1) assessing participants to develop realistic goals and training plans; (2) connecting participants to existing training in the community and filling gaps with in-house trainings; and (3) preparing participants for specific, local training programs.

Child care assistance was available to participants. Training programs varied in length from eight weeks to two years, and participants’ time in the program varied depending on their needs and the providers offering services. Minority single mothers were eligible to participate. The Atlanta Urban League implemented the MFSP program in Atlanta, GA.

3153.01-Study of Atlanta Urb
Populations and employment barriers: Parents, Single parents

Implementation at a glance

Primary service
Basic skills/bridge programs
Program services
Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Job readiness, Job search assistance
Review services terms
Setting(s)
Urban only
Year evaluation began
1984
Implementing organization(s)Atlanta Urban League

Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain

View table definitions

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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 Cannot assess support
Long-term Little evidence to assess support $0 per year 0.000 0
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Cannot assess support
Long-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable -1% (in percentage points) -0.028 672
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Cannot assess support
Long-term Cannot assess support
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 $9,426
Outstanding quality
Net benefit to participants, per participant -$141
Outstanding quality

Cost information

How much did the program cost per participant? 

The average total program cost per participant was $9,426 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 -$141 per participant in 2024 dollars. This means that the net program benefit to participants (difference in benefits between the program and comparison group) was $141 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, defined in this study as the federal government budget, was -$8,924 per participant in 2024 dollars. The net benefit to society was -$9,161 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
97%
Unknown or not reported
1%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
2%

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.