The YAIP offered work-readiness workshops; internships; educational workshops; case management; supportive services; and assistance finding work, educational, or military placements to youth who were not working or in school. Youth participated for about 20 hours per week in the work-readiness workshops and internships and were paid subsidized minimum wages. The work-readiness workshops lasted two to four weeks; internships lasted 10 to 12 weeks; and follow-up services were available for nine months after the internship ended. The YAIP served young adults ages 16 to 24 who were not working or in school; it also excluded youth who had recently dropped out of or completed high school, had reading skills below the sixth-grade level, or had a postsecondary degree. The program was implemented in 13 locations across New York City.
- 0.35,0.75
- 0.09,2.50
- 0.07,1.50
Summary
The Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP) provided internships and work-related services to young adults who were not working or in school in order to encourage work.
Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain
View table definitionsScroll to the right to view the rest of the table columns
| Outcome domain | Term | Effectiveness rating | Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages | Effect in standard deviations | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase earnings | Short-term | 
|
$4,301 per year
|
0.118 | 2678 |
| Long-term |
|
$2,588 per year
|
0.071 | 2678 | |
| Very long-term | 
|
$401 per year
|
0.011 | 2678 | |
| Increase employment | Short-term |
|
2% (in percentage points)
|
0.042 | 2678 |
| Long-term |
|
2% (in percentage points)
|
0.045 | 2678 | |
| Very long-term |  |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase education and training | All measurement periods |
|
1% (in percentage points)
|
0.023 | 2678 |
Studies of this program
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 High
|
1 |
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 | $6,930 |
Good quality
|
Cost information
How much did the program cost per participant?
The average total program cost per participant was $6,930 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 Good quality for the cost analysis.
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.
Implementation details
Dates covered by study
The study ran from July 2013 to July 2022. Study enrollment ran from July 2013 to March 2014. Data collection occurred from July 2013 to July 2022, with outcomes measured using survey data at 12-month and 30-month follow-ups and using administrative data over an eight-year follow-up period.
Organizations implementing program
The New York City Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development oversaw the program. The study included services provided by 12 organizations in 13 locations, including nonprofits, community-based organizations, a faith-based organization, a construction company, community centers, and a community college.
Populations served
The study sample was composed of young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who were eligible to work in the United States, were not currently in school or working and had not been enrolled in school in the previous semester, and were residents of New York City. The majority of participants had at least a high school diploma or equivalent (62 percent), were Black (58 percent), and were female (51 percent).
Description of services implemented
The YAIP offered three sequential phases:
- Orientation included work-readiness workshops that prepared participants for internships by strengthening career planning and interviewing skills, soft skills such as time management, and life skills such as financial education. The workshops also allowed staff to identify appropriate internship placements for participants. Workshops could take place in a variety of work sites and were matched to participants based on their skills and interests. Participants were paid minimum wage for five hours a day, five days a week during this period. During this phase, participants also engaged in activities related to personal development, cohort building, and job-matching.
- Internships in a variety of work sites were matched to participants based on their skills and interests. The YAIP subsidized employment for youth, at minimum wage, to work 20 hours per week in their internships and to attend a weekly mandatory educational workshop that provided additional ongoing job-readiness skills development. The educational workshop included additional work readiness, personal development, and cohort-building activities, as well as related topics, such as healthy living and financial literacy.
- Follow-up services, including case management, focused on providing assistance finding work, pursuing educational opportunities, or exploring military placements after the internship. Other supportive services such as housing and transportation assistance were also provided.
Throughout each of the phases, case management was available. The program was implemented as planned, but staff reported several challenges in recruiting individuals, managing overlapping cohorts of participants, delivering services to disadvantaged youth, and meeting oversight and performance expectations, which led to staff turnover. In addition, attendance at the mandatory educational workshops was not consistent. Although the YAIP was designed to be a so-called light touch program, many staff and participants indicated that a longer program with more support would be necessary to meet the goals of the program.
Service intensity
The program took place in three phases over about one year. The first phase included two to four weeks of orientation and job-readiness workshops; the second phase included 10 to 12 weeks of subsidized employment and continued learning; and the third phase included nine months of follow-up support.
Comparison conditions
Individuals in the comparison group were not offered services provided by the YAIP but could access other services in the community, including some non-YAIP services offered by YAIP provider agencies.
Partnerships
The implementing organizations could refer participants to various partner organizations for necessary services, such as transportation assistance, clothing, and financial education.
Staffing
Typically, one program coordinator, two case managers, one worksite developer/coordinator, and one intake/recruitment specialist provided services at each site. The program coordinator reported to the implementing organization’s director of workforce programs, whose work was supervised by one of three Department of Youth and Community Development program managers and the YAIP director. The study authors did not include information on staff training, degrees, or certifications.
Fidelity measures
The study did not discuss any tools to measure fidelity to the program model.
Funding source
The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development oversaw the program. During the study, services were provided by 12 organizations, including nonprofits, community-based organizations, a faith-based organization, a construction company, community centers, and a community college.
State(s) where implemented
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.