Study Details | Pathways to Work

101036.07-Study of Paths to Pr

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: Paths to Promise

Characteristics of study participants:

Public benefits recipients, Unemployed

Services provided:

Case management, Childcare and/or early education, Employment coaching, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Mental health services, Occupational or sectoral training, On-the-job training, Paid work experience/internships, Transportation assistance, Tuition assistance/financial aid, Work supports

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 2.0

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Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services enrolled 3,200 SNAP participants in the study, randomly assigning them to the Paths to Promise (P2P) program group or to a services-as-usual comparison group. The study focuses on 2,536 participants enrolled through December 2017, with 1,262 participants assigned to the program group and 1,274 participants to the comparison group.

Time period of study:

The study ran from April 2016 to December 2020. Study enrollment ran from April 2016 to August 2018, with pilot services ending in April 2019. Study data collection occurred from April 2016 to December 2020, with outcomes measured with survey and administrative data over a three-year follow-up period.

Primary outcome domains examined:

Increase short-term earnings, Increase long-term earnings, Increase short-term employment, Increase long-term employment, Decrease short-term benefit receipt, Decrease long-term benefit receipt

Other outcome domains examined:

Food security, health, well-being, housing status

Study funded by:

The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Number AG-3198-B-15-0002/12319818F0080.

Results

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Outcome domain	Measure	Timing	Study quality by finding	Comparison group mean	Program group mean	Impact	Units	Sample size
Increase short-term earnings	Annual earnings, UI data	Year 1	High	5,256.00	5,029.00	-227.00	2017 dollars	2,536
Increase long-term earnings	Annual earnings, UI data	Year 3	High	7,703.00	8,013.00	310.00	2019 dollars	2,536
Increase short-term employment	Average number of quarters employed, UI data	Year 1	High	1.70	1.80	0.10	quarters	2,536
Increase short-term employment	Ever employed, quarterly, UI data	Quarter 6	High	43.50	48.00	4.50	percentage points	2,536
Increase long-term employment	Average number of quarters employed, UI data	Year 3	High	5.20	5.50	0.30	quarters	2,536
Increase long-term employment	Ever employed, quarterly, UI data	Quarter 12	High	43.40	44.60	1.20	percentage points	2,536
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Amount of AFDC/TANF benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	89.00	59.00	-30.00	2017 dollars	2,536
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Amount of food stamps/SNAP benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	3,329.00	3,479.00	150.00	2017 dollars	2,536
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Received AFDC/TANF, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	6.40	3.80	-2.60	percentage points	2,536
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Received food stamps/SNAP, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	97.70	98.50	0.80	percentage points	2,536
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Received Medicaid, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	98.90	99.10	0.20	percentage points	2,536
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Amount of AFDC/TANF benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	76.00	60.00	-16.00	2019 dollars	2,536
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Amount of food stamps/SNAP benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	2,259.00	2,238.00	-21.00	2019 dollars	2,536
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received AFDC/TANF, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	4.80	3.80	-1.00	percentage points	2,536
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received food stamps/SNAP, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	70.30	70.20	-0.10	percentage points	2,536
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received Medicaid, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	99.00	98.80	-0.20	percentage points	2,536

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

The program targeted SNAP participants who were new or current work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work, with new registrants not having received SNAP benefits in the past 6 months). Most participants were White, not Hispanic (94 percent) and were unemployed (86 percent). The majority of participants had a high school diploma or GED (76 percent) and were female (59 percent).

Age

Mean age	33 years
Young adults (age 16-24)	26%
Adults (age 25+)	74%
Older adults (age 50+)	6%

Sex

Female	59%
Male	41%

Race and ethnicity

Black or African American	3%
White, not Hispanic	94%
Another race	1%
More than one 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.

Employment and public benefit status

Were employed	14%
Were unemployed	86%
Public benefits recipients	100%

Education

Had a high school diploma or GED	76%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	24%
Postsecondary credential	9%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Kentucky Department of Community Based Services; Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Jobs for the Future; Community Action Agencies; Kentucky Adult Education; Kentucky Community and Technical College System

Program history:

Paths to Promise (P2P) was one of 10 pilot programs across the country authorized and funded by the Agricultural Act of 2014 to offer enhanced SNAP Employment and Training services to help connect SNAP participants to employment opportunities.

Program services:

P2P provided enhanced services, which included extensive support services, adult basic education, occupational skills training, work-based learning opportunities, and job search and placement assistance. Individuals also received intensive case management through the providers’ team-based case management approach to coordinate services for individuals receiving services at multiple providers. After an initial intake process, a career navigator either worked directly with individuals pursuing immediate employment on job search and placement assistance or referred them to a provider for education and training aligned with their goals. Education and training activities options included basic education, short-term education or occupational skills training, or shorter certification programs. Participants who needed additional work experience could access work-based learning opportunities.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

The comparison group was eligible for any employment and training services available in the community. Kentucky did not offer a SNAP Employment and Training program in any of the study counties at the time of the study.

Service receipt duration:

The average length of participation was eight months.

Program funding:

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

Study publications

Dotter, Dallas, James Mabli, Barbara Carlson, Julie Hartnack, Mason DeCamillis, Nora Paxton, Amy Defnet, Peter Schochet, Gayle Hamilton, and Stephen Freedman (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Interim summary report technical supplement. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/interim-evaluation-pilot

Dotter, Dallas, Kelley Monzella, James Mabli, Barbara Carlson, Julie Hartnack, Peter Schochet, Mason DeCamillis, Dan Thal, Leah Shiferaw, Amy Defnet, Nora Paxton, Stephen Freedman (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Technical supplement. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/final-evaluation-pilot

Mabli, James, Gretchen Rowe, Gayle Hamilton, Julie Hartnack, and Peter Schochet (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Interim summary report. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/interim-evaluation-pilot

Rowe, Gretchen, James Mabli, Gayle Hamilton, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Peter Schochet, Dallas Dotter (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Kentucky interim report appendices. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/interim-evaluation-pilot

Rowe, Gretchen, James Mabli, Gayle Hamilton, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Peter Schochet, Dallas Dotter (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Kentucky interim report. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/interim-evaluation-pilot

Rowe, Gretchen, James Mabli, Julie Hartnack, and Kelley Monzella. (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Final summary report. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/final-evaluation-pilot

Rowe, Gretchen, James Mabli, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Leah Shiferaw, Peter Schochet, Milena Raketic, and Dallas Dotter (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Kentucky final report appendices. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/final-evaluation-pilot

Rowe, Gretchen, James Mabli, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Leah Shiferaw, Peter Schochet, Milena Raketic, and Dallas Dotter (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Kentucky final report. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap-et/final-evaluation-pilot

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Study of Paths to Promise