Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Bridge to Employment program on education, employment, earnings, and public benefits receipt.
- The study used a randomized controlled trial to assign participants to the Bridge to Employment program or the control group. Using participant surveys and data from the National Directory of New Hires, the authors conducted statistical models to compare the outcomes of treatment and control group members.
- The study found that program participants had significantly higher rates of exam-based certificates or credentials and healthcare credentials than control group participants.
- This study receives a high evidence rating for the earnings outcome. This means we are confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to the Bridge to Employment program and not to other factors. However, the study did not find statistically significant effects. This study receives a moderate evidence rating for the education, employment, and public benefits receipt outcomes. This means we are somewhat confident that any estimated effects are attributable to the Bridge to Employment program, but other factors might also have contributed.
Intervention Examined
Bridge to Employment Program
Features of the Intervention
The San Diego Workforce Partnership received a 5-year Health Profession Opportunity Grant in 2010 to start the Bridge to Employment program. The Bridge to Employment program offered eligibility assessments for training and provided navigation and case management services to help participants select a training program and overcome any barriers to participation. The program covered the cost of training programs through an individual training account of $7,000 and provided supportive services such as childcare assistance and transportation. Upon completion of the program, participants received help finding employment in the healthcare sector by offering job readiness workshops and assisting with their job search.
Three community-based programs in San Diego County delivered the program: Comprehensive Training Services (CTS), North County Lifeline (Lifeline), and Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC). The program was designed to help people with limited job skills who wanted to work in healthcare. While it did not specifically target low-income participants, outreach was made to organizations that served low-income individuals to encourage participation although only adult TANF recipients with a GED were allowed to participate.
Features of the Study
The study used a randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of the Bridge to Employment program. Eligible participants in San Diego County who agreed to participate in the study were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Of the 1,007 eligible participants, 507 were assigned to the treatment group and 500 were assigned to the control group. Treatment group members were eligible to receive Bridge to Employment program services. Control group members could not receive Bridge to Employment program services but could choose to participate in other employment services within the community. The majority of the study sample was female (84 percent), over the age of 25 (68%), with less than half identifying as Hispanic of any race (47%). Over half of the sample had some postsecondary education (60%). The sample’s average income was $17, 319 and almost half of the sample was receiving SNAP or WIC benefits (48%). The data for the education, employment, and public benefits receipt outcomes were drawn from the 3-year survey. The National Directory of New Hires provided earnings data. The study used statistical models to compare the outcomes of treatment and control group members.
Findings
Education and skills gains
The study found that program participants had significantly higher rates of exam-based certificates or credentials (59.6%) than control group participants (35.8%). The study also found that a significantly larger proportion of program participants received a healthcare credential (50.5%) than control group participants (35%).
Earnings and wages
The study found no significant differences between the groups in average quarterly earnings in quarters 12 and 13 after random assignment.
Employment
The study found no significant differences between the groups in employment rates at survey follow-up.
Public benefits receipt
The study found no significant differences between the groups in receipt of public assistance at survey follow-up.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
Although this study was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial, the 3-year survey had a 66% response rate. The education, employment, and public benefits receipt outcomes could not receive a high evidence rating due to high attrition. However, the authors accounted for preexisting differences between the groups before program participation. Therefore, these outcomes received a moderate evidence rating.
Causal Evidence Rating
This study receives a high evidence rating for the earnings outcome because it was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial. This means we would be confident that any estimated effects would be attributable to the Bridge to Employment program and not to other factors. However, the study did not find any statistically significant effects for this outcome. This study receives a moderate evidence rating for the remaining outcomes because it was based on a randomized controlled trial with high attrition, but the authors ensured that the groups being compared were similar before the intervention. This means we are somewhat confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the Bridge to Employment program, but other factors might also have contributed.
Additional Sources
Judkins, D., Dastrup, S., Juras, R., & Farrell, M. (2020). The San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Bridge to Employment in the Healthcare Industry Program: Appendices for Three-Year Impact Report (Report No. 2020-105). Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.