Study Details | Pathways to Work

2913-Study of Transitiona

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the program and comparison groups.

Program: Transitional Community Jobs Program

Characteristics of study participants:

Cash assistance recipients, Public benefits recipients

Services provided:

Job placement, Job search assistance, Post-employment participant follow-up, Soft skills training, Subsidized employment/transitional jobs

Setting: Suburban only

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 1.0

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Study design

Design:

Quasi-experimental design

Study group formation:

The Illinois Department of Human Services referred unemployed, long-term recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families who were available to work to the Transitional Community Jobs (TCJ) program, a subsidized employment program. The prospective participants underwent an intake process focused on barriers to employment, educational background, and current substance use. The program referred people with substance abuse challenges to treatment, while the remaining prospective participants began the employment services component of the program. After completing the employment services component, the program placed some participants in subsidized jobs. The authors do not specify how these participants were selected but note that "evaluators formed these groups after assessing service utilization patterns in order to best assess the impact of the subsidized job on employment and other outcomes."

Time period of study:

The program was studied between January 2000 and June 2001.

Pathways to Work only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

Age

Mean age

33 years

Employment and public benefit status

Public benefits recipients	100%
Were long-term cash assistance recipients	100%
Cash assistance recipients	100%

Education

Had a high school diploma or GED	39%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	61%

Specific employment barriers

Had a substance abuse disorder	30%
Were involved with the justice system	4%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Catholic Charities

Program services:

Members of the subsidized job group received traditional employment services like job-readiness classes, resume coaching, and interviewing skills development, as well as a six-month paid position in a nonprofit organization.

Mandatory services:

None.

Comparison services:

The limited services group received the same employment services—job-readiness classes, resume coaching, and interviewing skills development—but was not eligible for placement in a subsidized job.

Study publications

Rynell, Amy, and Kristy Beachy-Quick (2003). Transitional Community Jobs, Chicago, Illinois: A summary report of the program and its outcomes, Chicago, IL: Catholic Charities and Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. Available at https://www.issuelab.org/resource/transitional-community-jobs-a-summary-report-on-the-program-and-its-outcomes.html.

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Study of Transitional Community Jobs Program