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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Evaluation of Strategies Used in the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Grant Programs: Implementation and Early Impacts from the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial (Tessler et al., 2021)

  • Findings

    See findings section of this profile.

    Evidence Rating

Review Guidelines

Implementation Guidelines

Absence of conflict of interest.

Citation

Tessler, B., Schaberg, K., Fink, B., & Gasper, J. (2021). Evaluation of Strategies Used in the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Grant Programs: Implementation and Early Impacts from the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.

Highlights

Intervention Examined

TechHire Partnership Grants (TechHire) and Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI)

Features of the Intervention

  • Type of organization: State and community colleges; Local workforce development organizations 
  • Location/Setting: Multi-site in Florida, Colorado, Vermont, and New York 
  • Population served and scale: Parents and people with barriers to employment; 517 participants 
  • Industry focus: Manufacturing; Healthcare; Information technology 
  • Intervention activities: Free job training; case management; referrals to social services and childcare 
  • Organizational partnerships: Employers; Human services providers; Childcare providers; Community-based organizations 
  • Cost: Not included 
  • Fidelity: Not included 

TechHire Partnership Grants (TechHire) and the Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI) were created in 2015 to reduce the need for employers to hire temporary workers outside the United States through the H-1B visa program. TechHire aimed to help young adults with barriers to employment by providing them with accelerated training services and other supportive or job placement services. SWFI targeted working parents in entry level positions and provided childcare services, career pathway focused training, and customizable wraparound services. The programs were delivered by four community colleges/systems and one local workforce development organization in four states (Colorado, Florida, New York, and Vermont). There were three main types of partners: recruitment partners, training partners, and supportive services providers. Employers also advised programs on training curricula and labor market demands for specific roles or skills. Case managers and child support service managers referred participants to formal and informal partners in the wider community. At the time of the implementation evaluation, almost 1,000 people participated in some intake processes for the intervention but only 517 entered either of the programs.  

Features of the Study

The evaluation team reviewed applications from all 53 grantee organizations to select the five TechHire and SWFI programs that would participate in the implementation study. They considered several factors, such as the program models, the types of training and services provided, the expected number of participants, and the recruitment strategies. They also checked if the TechHire and SWFI programs were different enough from other local services.  

The study included 517 participants from both programs. The average age was 29, the majority were female and 38.7% of the participants had dependent children. In terms of race, 44% identified as White and 40.7% as Black or African American. Most participants had some work experience, often in fields related to the program's target industries, and 30% had only completed high school or earned a GED without any further education. Between 12% and 19% faced employment barriers such as childcare, transportation, or past incarceration.  

The study team used baseline and follow-up participant surveys, the participant tracking system, and interviews with key informants. The baseline survey was delivered to all participants as part of the impact study. Surveys were conducted at months 7-14 and month 18 to gather information on program participation, experiences, and life events outside the program. In 2019, interviews were held with managers and service providers at the 5 grantee sites. A follow-up round of in-depth interviews with program leaders occurred in 2020. The participant tracking system included all program participants and provided details on demographics, program experiences, and training outcomes from April 2018 to June 2020. The authors provided summary statistics from surveys and the tracking system, as well as qualitative information from interviews. 

Study Sites

The intervention was delivered in 5 sites, three TechHire sites and two SWFI sites.  

  • East Coast Florida (TechHire) 
  • New York City (TechHire) 
  • Tampa, FL (TechHire) 
  • Denver, CO (SWFI) 
  • Vermont (SWFI) 

Findings

Intervention Activities/Services 

  • The study found a gap between the programs’ goal to connect individuals with high-skilled jobs and its actual implementation, which targeted more entry-level positions.  
  • The programs boosted participant engagement in training, often credited to the case management services offered.  

Implementation Challenges and Solutions 

  • The study found that staff turnover in the specialized roles such as childcare coordinators and job developers created additional work for other program staff.  
  • Employer partners often failed to provide apprenticeships or internships to program participants.  
  • The NYC TechHire initiative adopted rigorous screening processes for participants to align their skill sets with the training requirements and the local economy’s needs. This approach also aimed to more effectively meet the grant's objectives of preparing individuals for middle- to high-level jobs. 
  • Grantees facing challenges in recruitment found success by using various marketing methods. They used billboards, traditional media, social media, and built both formal and informal partnerships with referral sources such as barbers and college counselors.

Considerations for Interpreting the Findings

The implementation study relies on a limited number of participant experiences from only five TechHire and SWFI grantees

Reviewed by CLEAR

January 2025

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