Participants of LA:RISE were co-enrolled in programs funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and received a minimum of 300 hours of subsidized, transitional employment at a social enterprise or workforce development system partner. These programs also provided on-the-job training, specialized training, or both. Other provided services varied by placement and included soft-skills training, work-readiness training and assessments, supportive services, case management, education, and permanent job search and placement services. Participants received incentive payments when they demonstrated proof of employment during the placement phase of the program. Services were delivered to participants for a minimum of seven weeks. Participants qualified for LA:RISE services if they were at least 18 years old; were under- or unemployed and had expressed interest in full-time employment; and had one or more of the following major barriers to employment: a record of justice system involvement, housing instability, or classification as a disconnected youth. LA:RISE was implemented at various sites in Los Angeles, CA.
Summary
The Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA:RISE) Pilot Program aimed to improve employment outcomes for people with high barriers to employment, including disconnected youth, people with a record of justice involvement, and people experiencing housing instability.
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 | 
|
$-1,349 per year
|
-0.037 | 963 |
| Long-term |
|
$2,770 per year
|
0.076 | 490 | |
| Very long-term |  |
||||
| Increase employment | Short-term |
|
5% (in percentage points)
|
0.116 | 963 |
| Long-term |
|
3% (in percentage points)
|
0.084 | 490 | |
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
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| Increase education and training | All measurement periods | |
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 | $11,383 |
Interpret cost findings with caution
|
| Cost per program outcome | $704,861 per a one percentage-point increase in quarterly employment rate, Quarter 2 |
Interpret cost findings with caution
|
Cost information
How much did the program cost per participant?
The average total program cost per participant was $11,383 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 Interpret cost findings with caution for the cost analysis.
How much did the program cost relative to its effects on participant outcomes?
A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted in the cost study reviewed, receiving a rating of Interpret cost findings with caution. This study estimated a cost of $704,861 in 2024 dollars per a one percentage-point increase in the quarterly employment rate for participants based on unemployment insurance data for the second quarter after random assignment. This means that, relative to the comparison group, each additional percentage point increase in the quarterly employment rate due to the program cost $704,861.
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
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.