Study Details | Pathways to Work

101036.12-Study of Jobs for In

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: Jobs for Independence

Characteristics of study participants:

Adults (age 25+), At least a high school diploma or equivalent, Public benefits recipients, Unemployed

Services provided:

Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Employment coaching, Housing supports and subsidies, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Mental health services, On-the-job training, Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives, Soft skills training, Subsidized employment/transitional jobs, Transportation assistance, 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 Vermont Agency of Human Services enrolled 3,031 SNAP participants in the pilot, randomly assigning individuals to the Jobs for Independence (JFI) program group or to the comparison group. The study focused on 2,756 participants enrolled through December 2017, with 1,378 individuals assigned to the program group and 1,378 assigned to the comparison group.

Time period of study:

The study ran from March 2016 to December 2020. Study enrollment ran from March 2016 to March 2018, with pilot services ending in December 2018. Study data collection occurred from March 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	6,759.00	6,581.00	-178.00	2017 dollars	2,756
Increase long-term earnings	Annual earnings, UI data	Year 3	High	7,828.00	7,880.00	52.00	2019 dollars	2,756
Increase short-term employment	Average number of quarters employed, UI data	Year 1	High	1.90	1.80	-0.10	quarters	2,756
Increase short-term employment	Ever employed, quarterly, UI data	Quarter 6	High	44.90	45.40	0.50	percentage points	2,756
Increase long-term employment	Average number of quarters employed, UI data	Year 3	High	5.20	5.20	0.00	quarters	2,756
Increase long-term employment	Ever employed, quarterly, UI data	Quarter 12	High	37.20	38.30	1.10	percentage points	2,756
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Amount of AFDC/TANF benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	147.00	118.00	-29.00	2017 dollars	2,756
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Amount of food stamps/SNAP benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	1,823.00	1,827.00	4.00	2017 dollars	2,756
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Received AFDC/TANF, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	5.50	4.90	-0.60	percentage points	2,756
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	Received food stamps/SNAP, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	98.80	99.00	0.20	percentage points	2,756
Decrease short-term benefit receipt	received Medicaid, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 1	High	92.30	92.00	-0.30	percentage points	2,756
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Amount of AFDC/TANF benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	176.00	180.00	4.00	2019 dollars	2,756
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Amount of food stamps/SNAP benefits, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	1,350.00	1,292.00	-58.00	2019 dollars	2,756
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received AFDC/TANF, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	5.90	5.30	-0.60	percentage points	2,756
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received food stamps/SNAP, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	63.20	60.50	-2.70	percentage points	2,756
Decrease long-term benefit receipt	Received Medicaid, annual, SNAP administrative data	Year 3	High	77.70	76.80	-0.90	percentage points	2,756

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 recipients who were new 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 in the past six months) with self-identified barriers to employment, including substance use disorders, mental health disorders, housing instability, and/or criminal histories. Most participants were unemployed (86 percent), were White, not Hispanic (86 percent), and had a high school diploma or GED (81 percent). The majority of participants were female (56 percent).

Age

Mean age	39 years
Young adults (age 16-24)	13%
Adults (age 25+)	87%
Older adults (age 50+)	22%

Sex

Female	44%
Male	56%

Race and ethnicity

Black or African American	5%
White, not Hispanic	86%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	3%
Asian	1%
Another race	1%
More than one race	5%

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	81%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	19%
Postsecondary credential	15%
English learners	1%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Vermont Agency of Human Services, Economic Services Division; Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Vermont Department of Labor; Community College of Vermont; Vermont Association of Business Industry and Rehabilitation; community action agencies of Vermont

Program history:

Jobs for Independence (JFI) 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:

JFI offered clinical assessments and counseling services; support services; and referral to employment services appropriate for an individual’s readiness for work with a vocational rehabilitation counselor, an employment counselor, or a case manager. The program also provided access to community college services for individuals to obtain a Governor’s Career Readiness Certificate (similar to the National Career Readiness Certificate). The four-module GCRC course included job readiness skills, computer skills, applied math, a WorkKey skills assessment, and job seeking skills. JFI offered referrals to basic and postsecondary education services and work-based learning opportunities. Participants assessed by staff as being work-ready could receive job search assistance. Participants received ongoing team-based counseling services from multiple agencies. JFI also offered incentive payments to individuals for attending meetings or meeting program milestones.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

The comparison group was eligible for any employment and training services available in the community. Vermont offered limited services through its voluntary SNAP Employment and Training program. The control group could also receive Vermont Department of Labor services, which included basic case management, job search assistance, workfare for able-bodied adults without dependents, and job placement assistance.

Service receipt duration:

The average length of participation was 11 months. Each GCRC module lasted one to two weeks and required in-person attendance at multiple half-day sessions per week. The work-based learning placements ranged in duration from several weeks to several months. Counseling assistance was available throughout program participation, initially starting with weekly meetings before transitioning to monthly meetings.

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

Mabli, James, Gretchen Rowe, Gayle Hamilton, Julie Hartnack, Kristen Joyce, Peter Schochet, Dallas Dotter, and Kelley Monzella (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Vermont 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

Mabli, James, Gretchen Rowe, Gayle Hamilton, Julie Hartnack, Kristen Joyce, Peter Schochet, Dallas Dotter, and Kelley Monzella (2021). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Vermont 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

Mabli, James, Gretchen Rowe, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Leah Shiferaw, Amy Defnet, Peter Schochet, Milena Raketic, and Dallas Dotter (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Vermont 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

Mabli, James, Gretchen Rowe, Julie Hartnack, Kelley Monzella, Leah Shiferaw, Amy Defnet, Peter Schochet, Milena Raketic, and Dallas Dotter (2022). Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Vermont 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

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

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Study of Jobs for Independence