Study Details | Pathways to Work

26716-Study of STEP-UP Ach

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 demonstrate that the program and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the program.

Program: STEP-UP Achieve Program

Characteristics of study participants:

Young adults (age 16-24)

Services provided:

Job development, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Paid work experience/internships, Post-employment participant follow-up, Soft skills training

Setting: Urban 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:

To apply for the STEP-UP Achieve program, youth had to be ages 16 to 21, living in the city of Minneapolis, not enrolled in college, and able to demonstrate low income or other employment barriers such as special education services, homelessness, or foster care placement. All individuals who applied and met basic eligibility criteria were invited to enroll in the STEP-UP Achieve program. This study used propensity score matching to match individuals who enrolled in and completed the STEP-UP Achieve program with similar individuals who did not participate in the STEP-UP Achieve program. Matches were identified based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, primary language, gender, grade level, and special education status. Minneapolis Public Schools provided student data for matching. There was no overlap between the STEP-UP Achieve participants and members of the matched group.

Time period of study:

The program took place from May to August 2016. STEP-UP Achieve program participants began their internships in May or June and completed them in August. Exact dates varied by employer. The study looked at outcomes through the end of school year 2017.

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

Sample characteristics

Age

Young adults (age 16-24)

100%

Sex

Female	52%
Male	48%

Race and ethnicity

Black or African American	62%
White, not Hispanic	6%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	9%
Asian	11%
American Indian or Alaska Native	6%
Unknown, not reported, or other	6%

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.

Specific employment barriers

Had a disability	14%
Were experiencing homelessness	3%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

City of Minneapolis, AchieveMpls, Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living

Program services:

The STEP-UP Achieve program is a partnership between the City of Minneapolis, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and two local nonprofits designed to provide paid employment opportunities for youth ages 16 to 21 who have low incomes, come from immigrant families, or have disabilities. Youth in the program condition were enrolled in and completed the STEP-UP Achieve program in summer 2016. Youth enrolled in the STEP-UP Achieve program received paid internship placement opportunities at local businesses, nonprofit agencies, and public organizations. Supervisors at each placement site received an orientation and training that encouraged supervisors to support youth through employment coaching, focusing on goal-setting and regular feedback. Youth also received training on career readiness, targeted skill development in topics like Excel and Outlook, personal finance training, and specialized enrichment activities for youth with an interest in a particular field such as health care or financial services careers. Youth had the opportunity to earn professional credentials in information technology and Excel following their specialized training.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

Individuals in the comparison condition did not participate in the STEP-UP Achieve program.

Study publications

Reich, Cindy (2018). STEP-UP Program, Social Innovation Fund; year 4 final impact and implementation evaluation report. Saint Paul, MN; University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement. Available at https://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/evidenceexchange/GTCUW%20Achieve%20Mpls%20Step%20Up_STEP_UP_Final_Report_082818_508.pdf

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Study of STEP-UP Achieve Program