
Study design
Design:
Study group formation:
Time period of study:
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, Increase education and trainingOther outcome domains examined:
Youth development, Health, Substance use, Criminal justice, Job characteristics, Housing, Family formationStudy funded by:
Results
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Outcome domain | Measure | Timing | Study quality by finding | Comparison group mean | Intervention group mean | Impact | Units | Findings | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Increase short-term earnings | Annual earnings | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
2,408.00 | 2,093.00 | -315.00 | 2012 dollars |
![]() |
3,878 |
Increase short-term earnings | Weekly earnings | 12 months |
High ![]() |
90.20 | 92.30 | 2.10 | 2013 dollars |
![]() |
2,845 |
Increase long-term earnings | Annual earnings | Year 4 |
High ![]() |
6,729.00 | 6,980.00 | 251.00 | 2015 dollars |
![]() |
3,878 |
Increase long-term earnings | Weekly earnings | 48 months |
High ![]() |
174.10 | 206.70 | 32.60 | 2016 dollars |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase short-term employment | Currently employed | 12 months |
High ![]() |
31.70 | 33.20 | 1.50 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,845 |
Increase short-term employment | Ever employed, quarterly | Quarter 6 |
High ![]() |
percentage points |
![]() |
3,878 | |||
Increase long-term employment | Currently employed | 48 months |
High ![]() |
46.40 | 50.90 | 4.50 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase long-term employment | Ever employed, quarterly | Quarter 16 |
High ![]() |
percentage points |
![]() |
3,878 | |||
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Currently receives government benefits | 12 months |
High ![]() |
70.30 | 72.00 | 1.70 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,845 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Currently receives government benefits | 48 months |
High ![]() |
56.20 | 56.80 | 0.60 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received a certificate | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.60 | 1.20 | 0.60 | percentage points |
![]() |
3,929 |
Increase education and training | Received associate's degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.90 | 1.90 | 1.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received associate's degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.00 | 0.20 | 0.20 | percentage points |
![]() |
3,929 |
Increase education and training | Received bachelor's degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.10 | 0.20 | 0.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received bachelor's degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.20 | 0.10 | -0.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
3,929 |
Increase education and training | Received high school diploma | 48 months |
High ![]() |
22.10 | 20.10 | -2.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received high school equivalency credential | 48 months |
High ![]() |
23.50 | 34.50 | 11.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received master's degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.00 | 0.10 | 0.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
3,929 |
Increase education and training | Received other degree | 48 months |
High ![]() |
0.80 | 0.50 | -0.30 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
Increase education and training | Received school-based trade license or training certificate | 48 months |
High ![]() |
3.40 | 5.30 | 1.90 | percentage points |
![]() |
2,721 |
High
Moderate
The findings quality describe our confidence that a given study’s finding is because of the intervention. We do not display findings that rate low.
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
Sample characteristics
The study focused on examining program impacts on youth who were low income and considered disconnected. All individuals were between the ages of 16 to 24, and eligibility to participate, in most cases, was limited to those who had dropped out of high school; they were also required to meet at least one of the following criteria: be from a low-income or migrant family, be currently in or aging out of foster care, be an ex-offender, have a disability, or have an incarcerated parent. The majority of participants were male (64 percent) and African American (63 percent). Fifteen percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were White. The average age was 20, and 30 percent were parents. The majority of participants had dropped out of high school after completing the 10th (26 percent) or 11th (35 percent) grade.
Age
Mean age | 20 years |
Young adults | 100% |
Sex
Female | 36% |
Male | 64% |
Participant race and ethnicity
Black or African American | 63% |
White | 15% |
Another race | 6% |
Unknown or not reported | 1% |
Hispanic or Latino of any race | 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.
Family status
Parents | 30% |
Participant employment and public benefit status
Had low incomes | 100% |
Participant education
Had a high school diploma or GED | 9% |
Did not have a high school diploma or GED | 91% |
Specific employment barriers
Had a disability | 11% |
Were experiencing homelessness | 3% |
Intervention implementation
Implementing organization:
Program history:
Intervention services:
Mandatory services:
Comparison services:
Service receipt duration:
Intervention funding:
Cost information:
These figures are based on cost information reported by study authors. The Pathways Clearinghouse converted that information to a single amount expressed in 2018 dollars; for details, see the FAQ. This information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
Study publications
Miller, Cynthia, Danielle Cummings, Megan Millenky, Andrew Wiegand,and David Long (2018). Laying a foundation: Four-year results from the national YouthBuild evaluation, New York City, NY: MDRC. Available at https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/YouthBuild_Final_508%20compliant.pdf.
Miller, Cynthia, Megan Millenky, Lisa Schwartz, Lisbeth Goble, and Jillian Stein (2016). Building a future: Interim impact findings from the YouthBuild evaluation, New York City, NY: MDRC. Available at https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/YouthBuild_Interim_Report_2016_508.pdf.
View the glossary for more information about these and other terms used on this page.
The Pathways Clearinghouse refers to interventions by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some intervention names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.
6796-YouthBuild