Employment Services

Report
September, 2023
Michelle S. Manno, Ann Bickerton, Bret Barden, Niko Leiva, Megan Schwartz

The Reentry Intensive Case Management Services program in Los Angeles County connects people who have been involved with the criminal legal system to community health workers who help them navigate services. This report presents encouraging findings from process and outcomes studies of the program and provides recommendations for providers.

Brief

Supportive Services in the Los Angeles County Innovative Employment Solutions Program

September, 2023
Sophie Shanshory

Individuals on probation face many challenges in reentering the community. This brief describes the Los Angeles County Innovative Employment Solutions Program’s creative approach to providing workforce and supportive services to this underserved population. The program’s unique training and funding model allows staff to respond flexibly to their clients’ complex needs.

Report

Implementation of a Sectoral Training Program for People Impacted by the Criminal Legal System

September, 2023
Emily Brennan, Chelsea Jackson, Anna Kyler

Individuals with criminal legal system involvement have many disadvantages when seeking high-wage employment. The SECTOR program aims to connect such individuals with training opportunities in high-growth sectors. This evaluation finds that SECTOR offers a promising approach to help participants find jobs that offer livable wages, career advancement opportunities, and benefits.

Working Paper

A Framework for Secondary and Postsecondary CTE

July, 2023

Changing labor market needs—particularly with regard to the clean energy sector—highlight the importance of developing new career and technical education (CTE) pathways. This working paper provides an overview of CTE policies and examines the need to improve the education and training pipeline to expand the climate workforce.

Issue Focus

A Synthesis of the Research for Employers and Local Governments

July, 2023

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 encourages applicants for federal funding in domestic semiconductor manufacturing to include sectoral partnerships. MDRC has conducted nearly 15 years of research on sector strategies. This paper presents recommendations drawn from evidence that employers and local governments can use to implement sector strategies well.

Report

Five-Year Findings from the Family Self-Sufficiency Evaluation

May, 2023
Stephen Freedman, Nandita Verma, Betsy L. Tessler, Barbara Fink

The federal Family Self-Sufficiency program is a voluntary case-management and asset-building intervention that provides incentives to work for Housing Choice Voucher recipients. This report examines program implementation, participants’ engagement in services, and impacts on labor force participation and receipt of government benefits five years following random assignment.

Report
May, 2023

The Jobs Plus demonstration aimed to increase economic empowerment and mobility for public housing residents through on-site employment services, rent-based work incentives, and supportive work activities. Sites that fully implemented the model saw long-term positive employment and earnings effects, but negative effects were observed in sites that did not.

Pages