Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD) on employment, earnings, and public benefits receipt in seven sites. This profile focuses on the outcomes of the Next STEP program in Fort Worth, Texas. The authors investigated similar research questions for other sites, the profiles of which can be found here.
- The study was a randomized controlled trial of a transitional job program in Fort Worth, TX that assigned formerly incarcerated individuals to the transitional job group or control group. Using surveys and administrative records, the authors conducted statistical models to compare the outcomes of the transitional job and control group participants 30 months after the participants entered the study.
- The study did not find any significant differences between the transitional job program participants and control participants on employment, earnings, or public benefits receipt outcomes.
- This study receives a high evidence rating. This means we are confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to Next STEP, and not to other factors. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects.
Intervention Examined
Next STEP Program
Features of the Intervention
The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected seven organizations to operate transitional job programs for low-income noncustodial parents or formerly incarcerated individuals. Each Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration program was structured differently but they all included enhancements aimed at improving outcomes compared to traditional transitional job programs. The enhancements included structural changes to how job placements occurred, enhanced support or assistance, and child support incentives.
The Next STEP program in Fort Worth, TX was operated by Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County. The program served individuals released from prison in the past 120 days. Participants completed a two-week assessment and job readiness training. The program then placed them in jobs with private employers and paid the participants wages for the first few months of the program. Participants also received case management, education, and mental health services.
Features of the Study
The study used a randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of Next STEP. Of the 999 participants who enrolled in the study between 2011 and 2013, 503 were randomly assigned to Next STEP (treatment group) and 496 were assigned to the control group. Participants in the control group were given information about other services available in their communities. The majority of the participants were male (90 percent), with an average age of 38 years. Sixty-eight percent of participants were Black, 15 percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were White. The study team examined the effects of the program on employment, earnings, and public benefits receipt outcomes 30 months after the participants entered the study. Data sources included a self-reported participant survey, the National Directory of New Hires, and administrative records. The authors used statistical models to compare the outcomes of treatment and control group participants.
Findings
Earnings and wages
- The study did not find any significant differences in earnings between the treatment and control participants during the 30-month follow-up period.
Employment
- The study did not find any significant differences in employment between the treatment and control participants during the 30-month follow-up period.
Public benefits receipt
- The study did not find any significant differences in receipt of food stamps between the treatment and control group participants.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The study authors noted that the programs’ impacts may be understated since participants in the control group received other transitional employment services during the study. Also, the study reports a less stringent statistical significance level, considering p-values of less than 0.10 to be significant, though it is standard practice to consider statistical significance if the p-value is less than 0.05. Only results that demonstrate a p-value of less than 0.05 are considered statistically significant in this profile.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to Next STEP and not to other factors. However, the study did not find any statistically significant effects.