Study Details | Pathways to Work

24989.09-Study of Health Care

Study quality: High

High

Reason for the rating: This study received a high study quality rating because it is a randomized controlled trial with low attrition, suggesting the findings can be attributed to the program.

Program: Health Careers for All Program

Services provided:

Case management, Employment coaching, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Peer mentoring

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 1.0

Learn about our protocol

Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

For the study, navigators recruited people receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other people served by organizations providing services to workers with low incomes. Interested applicants first met with a navigator and then had to research an occupation of interest, conduct an informational interview with a potential employer, and complete academic and nonacademic assessments. During this intake process, navigators also initiated background checks and verified participant eligibility (people had to have been TANF recipients; have income below 175 percent of the federal poverty line; or have an extenuating circumstance, such as a disability limiting their work). After the navigator confirmed an individual's eligibility, the individual completed baseline and consent forms and was randomly assigned. Random assignment occurred from September 2012 to December 2014, with 654 eligible applicants assigned to the program group (328 participants) or the comparison group (326 participants).

Time period of study:

People were randomly assigned from September 2012 to December 2014, and their outcomes were measured at 18 months and 3 years following random assignment.

Primary outcome domains examined:

Increase long-term earnings

Other outcome domains examined:

Psychosocial skills, life stressors, family formation, career knowledge and support, family economic well-being, parental engagement, and child well-being

Study funded by:

ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Results

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Outcome domain	Measure	Timing	Study quality by finding	Comparison group mean	Program group mean	Impact	Units	Findings	Sample size
Increase long-term earnings	Annual earnings	Year 3	High	21,930.00	20,942.00	-988.00	2015 dollars		652

Short-term outcomes are those measured 18 months or fewer after participants are first offered services. Long-term outcomes are those measured between 18 months and 5 years after participants are first offered services. Very long-term outcomes are those measured 5 years or more after participants are first offered services.

Means are not displayed when not reported or not aligned with the impact estimates. For example, if the impact estimate is regression-adjusted but only unadjusted means are reported in the study, the unadjusted means are not displayed as they are not aligned with the adjusted impact estimate.

Impact estimates are not shown when the estimate units cannot be converted to natural units.

Findings quality key:

High
Moderate

Study quality terms?

The findings quality describe our confidence that a given study’s finding is because of the program. We do not display findings that rate low.

Findings key:

A moderate-to-large favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large favorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that might be due to chance
A favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A favorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that might be due to chance
An unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
An unfavorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size or direction
A finding of no effect that might be due to chance

Favorable findings are impacts in a direction that is socially desirable. Statistical significance indicates the likelihood that a study finding is due to the program, rather than due to chance. Findings are described as moderate-to-large if the program produced a sufficiently large change in the outcome. An impact receives this designation if the standardized effect size is equal to or greater than 0.25 or equal to or less than -0.25.

Sample characteristics

Study participants were mostly female (85 percent). Most had a high school diploma or GED (87 percent), and many also had some postsecondary education (57 percent). About half were Black (51 percent), 29 percent were White, and 13 percent were Hispanic or Latino of any race. About 30 percent were employed at the time of random assignment.

Age

Young adults (age 16-24)	22%
Adults (age 25+)	78%

Sex

Female	85%
Male	15%

Race and ethnicity

Black or African American	51%
White, not Hispanic	29%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	13%
Unknown, not reported, or other	15%

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.

Employment and public benefit status

Were employed	30%
Were unemployed	70%
Had low incomes	100%

Education

Had some postsecondary education	57%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	13%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

TRAC Associates, a for-profit employment and training company in western Washington State

Program history:

In 2010, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County received a grant to launch and operate Health Careers for All. The program operated from 2010 to 2016, and the Workforce Development Council implemented a modified version of the program, called Health Workforce for the Future, beginning in 2016.

Program services:

The Health Careers for All program aimed to provide services to people who had low incomes and were interested in careers in health care. People in the program could access three levels of occupational training (structured using a career pathways approach), with courses at community and technical colleges funded through Individual Training Accounts or as free course packages open only to program participants. During and immediately after training, participants could receive financial support for expenses such as transportation and one-time, unexpected costs. People were also offered employment assistance, including job clubs, job search assistance, and access to a job developer. Finally, throughout the program, navigators provided case management services, including guidance and advice on employment, academic, and nonacademic issues and coordination.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

People in the comparison condition received business-as-usual services, including access to potential funding for occupational training through TANF and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (which developed the program).

Service receipt duration:

Trainings varied in length. On average, participants spent about five months in a training program.

Program funding:

ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Study publications

Gardiner, Karen, and Randall Juras (2019). Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE): Cross-program implementation and impact study findings, OPRE Report #2019-32, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/pathways-advancing-careers-and-education-pace-cross-program-implementation-and-impact.

Glosser, Asaph, and David Judkins (2020). Workforce Development Council of Seattle–King County’s Health Careers for All Program: Three-year impact report, OPRE Report #2020-112, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/wdc_3_year_impact_report_08_2020_508.pdf.

Glosser, Asaph, Carly Morrison, and David Judkins (2017). Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County Health Careers for All Program: Implementation and early impact report, OPRE Report #2017-106, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/wdc_implementation_and_early_impact_findings_final_b508.pdf.

View the glossary for more information about these and other terms used on this page.

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.

Study of Health Careers for All Program

24989.09-Study of Health Care

Study design

Design:

Study group formation:

Time period of study:

Primary outcome domains examined:

Other outcome domains examined:

Study funded by:

Results

Sample characteristics

Age

Sex

Race and ethnicity

Employment and public benefit status

Education

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Program history:

Program services:

Mandatory services:

Comparison services:

Service receipt duration:

Program funding:

Study publications