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Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation

Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation Presentation for American Public Human Services Association February 25, 2014. Discussion Goals. Introduce the importance of understanding effective job search assistance ( JSA ) strategies Describe the components of JSA programs

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Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation

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  1. Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation Presentation for American Public Human Services Association February 25, 2014

  2. Discussion Goals • Introduce the importance of understanding effective job search assistance (JSA) strategies • Describe the components of JSA programs • Summarize what we know from existing research on JSA • Identify research gaps • Describe the JSA evaluation and how states might participate

  3. Importance of Understanding JSA • JSA services are central to TANFprograms but little is known about what works best • Past rigorous studies show positive effects for JSA services when provided as part of welfare-to-work activities, but studies are dated • Type and duration of JSA that are most effective • Job search in a changing and recovering economic environment • How technology has created both opportunities and challenges for the job search process

  4. Components of JSA Programs • Assessment • Self-directed job search • Group job search activities • One-on-one counseling • “Life skills”/resilience training • Job development/job matching

  5. Discussion Questions • What types of JSA strategies do you use in your program? • What types of strategies would you like to expand or include?

  6. What Do We Know about JSA? • JSA is effective at speeding entry into work • The impacts from JSA are modest. It mostly increases the speed at which people find jobs, rather than affecting the quality of jobs they attain • Some evidence that mandatory JSA (and the use of sanctions) lead primarily to reductions in cash assistance, with weaker impacts on earnings • More intensive and more personalized JSA programs do not have clearly better outcomes

  7. Discussion Questions • What do you know about your current JSA program? • What would you like to know?

  8. Research Objectives • High priority study to determine “what works” in providing job search assistance to TANF recipients. • Study will examine the impact of JSA program approaches TANF recipients’ short-term employment and earnings, and potentially job quality and receipt of public assistance • Results will be of great operational value to all states, but especially those that participate

  9. Study Team • Sponsored by Administration for Children and Families, conducted by Abt Associates and Mathematica Policy Research • APHSA, Rockefeller Institute of Government, Russell Sykes Consulting, and Don Winstead Consulting are also partners

  10. Study Approach • Evaluation Design: • Impact study will randomly assign individuals to contrasting JSA approaches and then compare employment and earnings • Implementation study will examine services received under each approach, and provide operational lessons • Sites: • Large samples are needed • Looking to implement the same JSA tests in multiple states/localities • Current activities: • Determining what JSA approaches should be tested • Identifying potential sites to participate in the evaluation

  11. Key Tasks and Project Timeline Knowledge Development/Site Selection Random Assignment & Monitoring Implementation Study Impact Study Data Collection & Analysis

  12. Identifying JSA Models to Test • Key factors to consider • Creating policy-relevant tests of interest to ACF, the policy community, and the field • Feasibility of implementing different JSA interventions within a single TANF agency • Feasibility of consistent implementation of treatment condition across various offices and sites • Focus on identifying common approaches as well as contrasts that are most relevant to the field • Goal is develop tests of different JSA approaches; there is no “no-service” control group

  13. Examples of What Could be Studied • TANF applicant JSA • Self-directed JSA vs. group JSA • Self-directed JSA vs. one-on-one guided JSA • “Life skills” training • Job development services

  14. Participating in the Study • Excellent opportunity to test an approach to JSA that you might not otherwise be able to consider • Site could be a state or individual localities • Participating locations will continue to implement their existing JSA program, but will modify or adopt a contrasting strategy and randomly assign individuals to different approaches • Evaluation team will work to minimize disruption to current operations and provide guidance and support • Financial payments to offset research-related costs

  15. Next Steps • Conference calls with interested states/localities to: • Understand what you think is most important to learn from the evaluation • Discuss potential participation in the study • Develop tests and sites over the next several months, with the goal of implementing random assignment in early 2015 • Please contact us if you are interested in learning more!

  16. Discussion Questions • What JSA approaches would you be most interested in learning about as part of this evaluation? • What is important for us to know from you (those operating these programs) about conducting this evaluation?

  17. Key Contacts • Karin Martinson, Project Director, karin_martinson@abtassoc.com • Michelle Derr, Co-Principal Investigator MDerr@Mathematica-Mpr.com • Cynthia Woodside, APHSA, cwoodside@aphsa.org • Rachel Cook, Deputy Project Director, rachel_cook@abtassoc.com

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