Knowledge Management 

Economic Opportunity State of 

the Practice Report

Submitted: August 19, 2015

Submitted to:

Adrienne DiTommaso

Corporation for National and Community Service

1201 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20525

Submitted by:

JBS International, Inc.

Aguirre Division

555 Airport Blvd, Suite 400

Burlingame, CA 94010-2002
Table of Contents

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................2

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................1

Housing .......................................................................................................................................................1

State of the Practice for Housing .........................................................................................................1

Habitat for Humanity .......................................................................................................................1

Supportive Housing..........................................................................................................................2

Financial Literacy.......................................................................................................................................2

State of the Practice for Financial Literacy .........................................................................................2

Employability .............................................................................................................................................2

State of the Practice for Employability ...............................................................................................3

Industry Sector Skills Training and the Issue of Training Duration..........................................4

Work Experience ...............................................................................................................................4

Supportive Services/Life support....................................................................................................4

Job Search Services ............................................................................................................................4

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................5

Appendix A: Eligibility Criteria for National Service Review ............................................................6

Appendix B: Inclusion Criteria for the State of the Practice Brief.......................................................8

Appendix C: Levels of Evidence..............................................................................................................9

Levels of Evidence for Individual Studies .........................................................................................9

Overall Levels of Evidence Determinations for Focus Areas..........................................................9

Appendix D: Included Studies...............................................................................................................10

Housing.................................................................................................................................................10

Employability.......................................................................................................................................14
State of the Practice

National Service Economic 

Opportunity Initiatives

August 19, 2015

1

Introduction

This brief highlights successful strategies identified in impact studies of national service

programs with positive findings in the economic opportunity priority area. The aim of this brief 

is to provide program staff and funders with insights into successful programs and strategies 

for using national service participants to support economic opportunity outcomes. A systematic 

search to identify published academic and grey literature following a predetermined search and 

review protocol identified 114 documents pertaining to national service economic opportunity 

programs. Twelve documents in the identified literature described economic opportunity 

program impact studies and 44 documents described program outcomes. Of these, five

documents describing impact studies and four describing outcome studies of successful 

economic opportunity programs were analyzed for this report. See Appendix A for overall 

eligibility criteria, Appendix B for inclusion criteria for this brief, Appendix C for level of 

evidence determinations, and Appendix D for a list of all included studies.

Housing

To facilitate the well-being and security of economically disadvantaged individuals, CNCS 

supports housing programs that enable economically disadvantaged individuals to transition 

into, or remain in, safe, healthy, and affordable housing. Measures of impacts for this focus area

address: 1) social cohesion and sense of community; 2) housing stability; and 3) self-esteem and 

pride of skills.

State of the Practice for Housing

Positive impacts of CNCS programs on social cohesion were found in one quasi-experimental

(QED) study with a non-equivalent comparison group. In addition, the review included three

outcome studies: one demonstrating positive impacts on family strengths, perceptions of 

financial well-being, perceptions of community, and perceptions of family achievement; one 

demonstrating correlations between participation in various program components and 

outcomes, such as a positive correlation between participation in training and decreased 

perception of economic and racial segregation; and one demonstrating positive impacts on 

income levels and access to food and housing stability, with decreases in jail bookings and 

residential substance abuse treatment (see Table 1).
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Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity provides new housing construction for economically disadvantaged 

households, requiring beneficiaries’ participation in the form of “sweat equity,” design 

participation, and engagement in public activities and training. One quasi-experimental study 

of the program that employed non-equivalent comparison groups revealed statistically 

significant improvements in social cohesion. A key to the program’s success is the active 

participation of the partner families in the construction process, in the housing design, and in 

related training activities. Habitat for Humanity is the most-studied of the housing models, and 

the studies generally show positive impacts across a range of factors, such as use of resources 

and varying economic, social, and psychological attributes.

Table 1: Housing Summary

Program

Study 

Design 

Type

Positive Outcomes Population Program 

Components 

Habitat for 

Humanity

QED –

Nonequivalent 

groups

 Social cohesion Homeowners 

in Habitat and 

non-Habitat 

neighborhoods

 Housing 

construction

 “Sweat equity”

 Public activities

Pre-Post  Family strengths

 Perceptions of financial wellbeing

 Perceptions of community

 Perceptions of family 

achievements

Habitat 

homeowners

 Training

 Design 

participation

 Clustered vs. 

scattered Habitat 

housing

Correlational Housing attachment

 Frequency of house 

maintenance

 Design – house satisfaction

 Pride of skills

 Sense of community

 Human and social resources

 Perception of economic and 

racial segregation

 Generalized sense of 

community

Habitat 

homeowners

Homeless 

Assistance 

Rental 

Program 

(HARP) 

Pre-Post  Decrease in jail bookings

 Decrease in residential 

substance abuse treatment

 Income level

 Access to food

 Housing stability

White (74%), 

Female (56%) 

HARP

participants

 Rental assistance

 Case management 

services
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The reviewed literature revealed that there does not appear to be a substantial body of rigorous 

research in the form of randomized control trials (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs (QED)

that use statistical matching in this area. There is also a lack of coherence across the literature;

the studies address a range of hypotheses with few common elements, and largely do not 

appear to build on one other. One correlational study indicates that clustered Habitat housing 

helped eliminate the perception of economic segregation as opposed to scattered housing 

development patterns and two studies indicated that “sweat equity,” by which participants 

contribute in the form of labor, had positive effects on human and social resource development. 

The correlational study was of particular interest because it analyzed the relative impact of 

Habitat program components of construction, sweat equity, public activities, training, and 

design participation on partner family outcomes. Its findings include the following: the training 

and public activities components were associated with generalized sense of community,

participation in the house construction was associated with frequency of house maintenance,

and participation in the training component was associated with decreased perception of 

economic and racial segregation.

Supportive Housing

Research on CNCS-funded supportive housing approaches for the homeless is still nascent, but 

the pre-post study reviewed indicates this approach has promise and merits further research.

The supportive housing model combines the provision of rental housing with ongoing case 

management services. Positive outcomes included a decrease in jail bookings and the use of 

residential substance abuse treatment, overall improvements in income level, and access to food 

and housing stability.

Financial Literacy

To improve financial literacy outcomes, programs engage beneficiaries in: 1) financial education 

classes; 2) debt reduction and financial management counseling; and/or 3) saving assistance 

programs.

State of the Practice for Financial Literacy

Reviewers found no completed impact or outcome studies that could indicate whether financial 

literacy programs were successful1, or which program components may lead to success.

Employability

To improve employability outcomes, programs engage beneficiaries in: 1) sector-specific job 

training; 2) social enterprise employment; and 3) job search services. Priority measures of 

impact include: 1) earnings; 2) employment; and 3) job retention.

 

1 Although some programs have a financial literacy component, no final study independently assessed 

the success of this component of their program. 
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State of the Practice for Employability

To facilitate the employability of beneficiaries of CNCS programs, the literature reflects several 

key strategies that have a bearing on employment outcomes: 1) an industry-sector focus on

skills training; 2) training duration; 3) work experience components; 4) supportive services/life 

supports, such as financial education; and 5) job search services provision. There is little in the 

way of research that isolates the unique contributions of each of these program components.

Table 2: Employability Summary

Program

Study 

Design 

Type

Positive Outcomes Population Program Components 

Year Up RCT  Earnings 

(including hourly 

wages)

Low-income

young adults 

(ages 18-24)

 Sector-specific technical 

skills training (six-month

duration)

 Internship (six-month

duration)

 Business communication and 

professional skills classes

 Stipend

 Counseling

 Job search assistance

 Earning of college credits

Jobs for the 

Future

QED –

Groups 

formed by 

matching

 Employment and 

job retention

 Earnings 

Unemployed 

individuals in 

Ohio 

 Sector-specific skills training

(all three programs)

 Job readiness training (two

programs)

 Assistance in obtaining 

employability and training 

credentials (two programs)

 Job search assistance (two

programs)

 Enrollment in college 

coursework and specialized 

apprenticeships (one

program)

 Pre-apprenticeship program 

(one program)

REDF social 

enterprise

QED –

Groups 

formed by 

matching

 Employment and 

job stability

Individuals 

with significant 

barriers to 

employment 

(e.g., parolees) 

 Sector-specific social 

enterprise employment

 Skills training

 Job search assistance

 Life supports such as 

financial education and food 

support

 Post-employment counseling
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Program

Study 

Design 

Type

Positive Outcomes Population Program Components 

WorkSource QED –

Groups 

formed by 

matching

 Employment

 Earnings 

Unemployment 

claimants in 

Washington 

State 

 Job search services 

Industry Sector Skills Training and the Issue of Training Duration

Skills training that is closely tied to industry requirements seems to yield positive results, 

particularly when the industries selected are projected to have a growth in employment levels 

and where demand for workers exceeds the available supply. As shown in the QED impact 

study of three sector initiatives conducted by Jobs for the Future (JFF), the students in the health 

care sector had a greater array of positive outcomes (e.g., finding and keeping a job, increased 

earnings) than those in construction, and, to a lesser extent, advanced manufacturing. The 

experience of the Year Up program, which offered six months of technical training in the growth 

occupations of financial operations and information technology with six-month internships

indicates that further research may be helpful to determine whether the length of the training is 

also a factor related to positive outcomes.

Work Experience

The REDF social enterprise study (using a matched comparison group design) provided those 

with significant barriers to employment the opportunity to gain work experience and 

demonstrate work readiness skills. Program participants included opportunity youth, 

individuals with mental illness, homeless individuals, and those with criminal records. The Year 

Up program also offered work experience through the provision of internships, indicating that 

the provision of opportunities for “real life” experiences in the workplace may be a component 

of successful programs.

Supportive Services/Life support

The successful program models share a high-support approach that includes such services as 

financial education, food referrals, and life skills counseling. In the REDF study, two-thirds of 

participants received life stability supports, such as financial education. Future research on the 

extent to which these services, collectively and individually, are associated with positive life 

outcomes would provide a useful contribution to the field. Not surprisingly, offering stipends 

also positively impacts participant income.

Job Search Services

The WorkSource study conducted in Washington State used a QED with matched comparison 

groups to show that the provision of job search services to UI claimants positively affected 

employment outcomes and, for some segments, positively affected earnings as well. Nearly all 
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of the successful programs we studied incorporated job search services as a program 

component.

Conclusion

As revealed through a substantial literature review, programs in the economic opportunity 

priority area with positive outcomes for their participants share several characteristics, most 

notably an array of services that address the diverse and often extensive challenges

economically disadvantaged individuals face.

A common trait of the housing-related programs is the provision not just of housing, but of 

services such as training or case management designed to support housing success. Such 

support is beneficial for participant outcomes because it assists participants in anticipating and 

resolving issues that may interfere with housing stability.

Four employment-related programs demonstrated positive outcomes. Common among these 

programs was the provision of job search assistance services. Training duration appears to be 

associated with positive outcomes, as does an industry-specific focus in skills training for highdemand industries, the provision of work experience opportunities, and the provision of other 

employment supports such as counseling or training related to employability development.
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Appendix A: Eligibility Criteria for National Service Review

1. The document is factual (versus opinion2).

o The document is referring first-hand to research findings, using original or 

secondary data collection, a synthesis of the literature, or a systematic 

review/meta-analysis.

o The document is not an Op-Ed, testimonial, or marketing material.

2. The study is relevant to CNCS-sponsored National Service or CNCS.

o The study is conducted on a program that, at the time of the study, engaged 

AmeriCorps State/National, NCCC or VISTA Members, Senior Corps Volunteers, 

or was funded by SIF or a SIF Grantee. A program refers to an ongoing service 

and does not include short term special initiative projects.

o The study is conducted on a program model that currently engages AmeriCorps 

members or Senior Corps volunteers, even if the study itself does not identify or 

include specific program sites with AmeriCorps members or Senior Corps 

volunteers (e.g., studies of Reading Partners, City Year).3

o The program’s outcomes are applicable to CNCS. The study investigates the 

effectiveness of volunteers or national service programs in the focus areas of 

Education, Economic Opportunity, Healthy Futures, Environment, or Disaster 

Services and Response.

3. The document is in English.

4. The document is a final report for the program, project or evaluation rather than an 

interim or progress report.4

 

2 Factual documents report data or other information in a manner that is subject to empirical verification.

Opinion documents pass judgment on the value or merit of a set of facts or circumstances based on a set 

of evaluative criteria that are not strictly subject to empirical verification (e.g., based on moral or political 

considerations).

3

It is anticipated that the review would not include any study of a program that, although it could be 

adapted for national service, is not currently funded by CNCS, with the exception of evidence based 

practices that could be applied in a national service context found in online clearinghouses. 

4 Final reports summarize information about a program or intervention at the end of the program or 

intervention's life or at the end of a major cycle in the program or intervention's life (e.g., at the end of a 

funding period). By contrast, an interim report provides information on the status of a program or 

intervention at an intermediate juncture in its lifecycle. Information provided in an interim report does 

not contain complete information on results, as the program or intervention is still underway at the time 

when the report was written. 
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5. The document was published after 1990 but before the search kickoff date (February 

1

st 2015), is a seminal document as indicated by citations in post-1990 literature, or was 

recommended for inclusion by a key stakeholder.

6. The document does not duplicate information from a previously screened source. 

Where duplicate information is identified, two sources will be listed as a single citation 

and only the latest source will be reviewed.
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Appendix B: Inclusion Criteria for the State of the Practice Brief

The documents in this report represent a subset of documents chosen for complete review in the 

Economic Opportunity State of the Science Brief. Documents were selected for inclusion in this 

Economic Opportunity State of the Practice brief if they:

1. Reported positive outcomes related to one of the three key areas of economic 

opportunity addressed by CNCS5:

a. Transition into, or ability to remain in, safe, healthy, affordable housing.

b. Improved access to services and benefits aimed at contributing to enhanced 

financial literacy.

c. Improved employability leading to increased success in becoming employed.

2. Were among the most rigorous studies that demonstrated positive outcomes within one 

of the three key areas.

 

5 Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). (2011). The Corporation for National and 

Community Service Strategic Plan 2011-2015. Washington, DC.
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Appendix C: Levels of Evidence

Levels of Evidence for Individual Studies

Strong evidence means the study incorporates a design that can support causal conclusions for 

the specific program with the highest level of confidence (i.e., very high internal validity). This 

would include well-designed and well-implemented experimental studies conducted on the 

proposed program.

Moderate evidence means the study can support causal conclusions for the program studied 

with moderate confidence (i.e., those that take steps to increase internal validity). This would 

include well designed and conducted quasi-experimental studies or correlational research with 

strong statistical controls for selection bias and for discerning the influence of internal factors. 

An example of research that meets the standards would be a well-designed and wellimplemented quasi-experimental study that compares outcomes between the group receiving 

the intervention and a matched comparison group (i.e., a similar population that does not 

receive the intervention).

Preliminary evidence includes non-experimental studies such as those that seek to demonstrate 

improvement in program participants over time on one or more intended outcomes or an 

implementation (process evaluation) study used to learn and improve program operations. 

Examples of these include: 1) outcome studies that track program participants through a service 

pipeline and measure participants’ responses at the end of the program; and 2) pre- and posttest research that determines whether participants have improved on an intended outcome.

This level also includes RCTs and QEDs with significant threats to validity, such as evidence of 

selection bias.

Pre-preliminary evidence would include studies reporting quantitative or qualitative data from 

program staff, program participants, or beneficiaries that have been used for program 

improvement, performance measurement reporting, and/or tracking. An example could be 

gathering feedback from program participants following their service year.

Overall Levels of Evidence Determinations for Focus Areas

In determining the overall level of evidence for specific focus areas (e.g., housing), we selected 

the highest level at which there were multiple studies supporting positive outcomes.
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Appendix D: Included Studies

Housing

2144 Lattimore, J. D. (2014). Rebuilding social organization in low-income neighborhoods: The influence of Habitat for Humanity (Doctoral 

dissertation, Clemson University).

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for 

Humanity

ASN John Daniel Lattimore Des Moines, 

Indianapolis, 

Louisville, 

Providence, San 

Antonio

This quasi-experimental study assesses the impact of the presence of Habitat for Humanity homes on neighborhood social organization in lowincome neighborhood. This study focuses on five large U.S. cities spread across the country. This investigation hypothesizes that Habitat for 

Humanity families are more motivated to better their lives than their neighbors because of Habitat’s selection criteria and because they have 

completed the process of becoming a Habitat homeowner. The theory also suggests that Habitat homeowners have a positive effect on their 

neighbors, and their neighborhood. This effect is measured through components of social organization. The dissertation takes advantage of the 

Making Connections survey sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation as well as qualitative interviews, neighborhood observations and GIS 

analysis in order to determine the effect Habitat homeowners have on their neighborhoods.

The data collected were used to estimate the effect of the presence of Habitat for Humanity’s homes, either scattered or in clusters, on several 

variables that are indicators for sense of community, positive identification with the neighborhood, and explicit norms against aberrant behavior. 

Six variables related to social organization were analyzed with ANOVA procedures, and significant differences were found between people living 

in blocks with a Habitat for Humanity house and those living in blocks without a Habitat for Humanity house in measures of Cohesion. Additional 

outcome measures determined that Habitat homeowners feel much better about raising their children in their neighborhoods and generally have a 

more positive outlook on the future of their neighborhoods. Overall this study provides preliminary evidence for these findings. 
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2166 Phillips, I., Opatrny, M., Bennett, S., & Ordner, D. (2009). Homeownership Impact on Habitat for Humanity Partner Families. 

Social Development Issues, 31(3), 48-65.

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for 

Humanity

AmeriCorps Iris Philliips, Marie Opatrny, Stephanie Bennett, and 

Debra Ordner

Evansville, Indiana

This outcome study employed pre-post measures to assess the economic, social, and psychological benefits of Habitat for Humanity

homeownership, based on participant self-reports. Data were collected from 107 Habitat homeowners using quantitative and qualitative tools.

The study examined outcomes in four subgroups: (1) family strengths I (esteem and communication), (2) family strengths II (mastery and 

health), (3) extended family social support, and (4) financial well-being. This data was triangulated by surveying family members of the 

recipients, specifically their perceptions of behaviors, achievements, attitudes, and public assistance needs before and after owning their Habitat 

home, as well as follow up interviews conducted by MSW students with the recipients themselves. All of the outcomes returned statistically 

significant results which indicated a positive social impact on partners after taking ownership of their house. Overall this study provides 

preliminary evidence for these findings.
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2225 Zhu, Y. (2006). Comparing human and social resources accumulated through participation with Habitat for Humanity in scattered sites 

and Habitat neighborhoods (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida).

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for 

Humanity

SIF Yun Zhu Florida

This correlational study explored the sweat equity process of Habitat for Humanity as participation, learning-by-doing, and sharing with 

African-American female heads of Habitat households. It was hypothesized that 1) sweat equity contributed to human and social resource 

development; 2) Habitat neighborhoods contributed to the maintenance of resources; and 3) design participation was associated with house 

satisfaction. The principal study was conducted in three Southeast United States Habitat affiliates.

Convenience sampling and volunteerism identified 49 respondents. Results suggested that sweat equity and design participation are associated 

with positive effects on human and social resource development. Also, Habitat neighborhoods helped eliminate the perception of economic 

segregation, compared to Habitat houses in scattered sites. These findings suggest that the learning-by-doing and sharing—sweat equity—are 

practical and efficient processes to create human and social resources with low-income families. Overall this study provides pre-preliminary 

evidence for these findings.
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2518 Hickert, A. O., & Taylor, M. J. (2011). Supportive housing for addicted, incarcerated homeless adults. Journal of Social Service 

Research, 37(2), 136-151.

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Homeless Assistance 

Rental Program

Homeless 

Assistance 

Rental Program

ASN Audrey O. Hickert & Mary Jane Taylor, Utah Criminal 

Justice Center

Metropolitan Area 

in the Western 

United States 

(anonymous)

This pre-post study on the Homeless Assistance Rental Program (HARP) examined outcomes for clients of a new supportive housing intervention 

in use of formal treatment, jail contact, and community stability. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of supportive housing 

for homeless, addicted and incarcerated adults, where supportive housing was defined as housing with case and medication management, or 

clinical services. The study took place in the Western United States between December 2005 and October 2007. One hundred participants took 

part in HARP, 74% of whom were white, 56% of whom were female, and 70 of whom successfully completed the program.

The study utilized a pre-post test to determine the relationship between supporting housing and instances of jail and/or residential treatment, as 

well as the success of reintegration into the community following the completion of a supportive housing project. For those who completed the 

program, jail and residential treatment involvement decreased significantly, and for those with jail involvement, time in jail decreased 

significantly as well. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for these findings. 
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Employability

2293 Roder, A., & Elliott, M. (2014). Sustained gains: Year Up’s continued impact on young adults’ earnings. New York: Economic Mobility 

Corporation.

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Year Up Year Up ASN & SIF Economic Mobility Corporation Providence, RI; 

New York, NY; and 

Washington, DC

This randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of Year Up, a nonprofit workforce development organization based in Boston, to 

effect employment and earnings outcomes. Year Up aims to provide training and preparation for positions with good wages and career 

advancement opportunities in the information technology and financial operations fields. The goal of the program is to help young people 

obtain well-paying jobs that they would not have been able to access on their own. The program serves low-income adults ages 18 to 24.

The evaluation asked whether Year Up demonstrated an impact in terms of hours worked, earnings, and college attendance. The evaluation 

followed participants during the year-long program and for three post-program years. Of 195 people enrolled in the program, 135 were 

randomly selected for the treatment group with 60 in the control group. Three quarters of participants were ages 18 to 21. Participants were 54 

percent male and 46 percent female; 32 percent Black, 34 percent Latino, and 14 percent other; and 11 percent had earned a GED while 89 

percent had a high school diploma.

The study found that program completion was crucial to participants’ success. Wages earned showed the greatest impact. The annual earnings 

of Year Up participants were 30 percent greater on average than those of control group members and four years after study enrollment, young

adults who participated in Year Up continued to earn substantially more. Overall the study provides strong evidence for these findings.
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2422 Michaelides, M., Mueser, P., & Mbwana K. (2013). Quasi-experimental impact study of NFWS/SIF Workforce partnership programs. 

Columbia, MD: Impaq International, LLC. 

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

Jobs for the Future National Fund 

for Workforce 

Solutions

SIF Impaq International Ohio

This quasi-experimental study estimates the impacts of three National Fund for Workforce Solutions programs on the labor market outcomes of 

participants who were unemployed at program entry. The research utilized a quasi-experimental design in which NFWS/SIF impacts were 

estimated by comparing the outcomes of 2,055 program participants with outcomes of non-participants who were observationally equivalent to 

program participants. This report focuses on three partnerships in Ohio: the Healthcare Careers Collaborative, the Advanced Manufacturing 

Partnership, and the Construction Sector Partnership.

The results of the study show that the health program was by far the most successful, increasing participant earnings and assisting unemployed 

participants to find and retain work for at least a year after the programs. The construction program was quite the opposite: while it helped the 

participants during the program, it had no impact on job retention or earnings. The results of the manufacturing partnership fell in between, as 

they raised job retention and earnings higher than would have been without the program, but not as significantly as the health program. 

Overall, the study provides moderate evidence for these findings.
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2445 Rotz, D., Maxwell, N., & Dunn, A. (2014). Economic self-sufficiency and life stability one year after starting a social enterprise job. 

Oakland, CA: Mathematica Policy Research. 

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

REDF REDF SIF Mathematica Policy Research Location(s) of the 

study

The purpose of this 2013 study was to evaluate the economic self-sufficiency and life stability of social enterprise employees with significant 

barriers to employment hired through REDF programs. The study contained four components: an implementation study, an outcomes study, a 

quasi-experimental impact study (pre-post), and a cost benefit analysis. A combined total of 282 workers from eight programs responded to the 

surveys. Measures of self-sufficiency include employment, income, and how much government support the participant is receiving. The 

measures of life stability include housing, recidivism, physical health, mental health, and substance abuse.

The evidence suggests that Social Enterprise employment is responsible for a 19 percentage point increase in employment after one year, in 

comparison to non-SE work. The stable housing of SE employees increased from 15% to 53%, although the same number of participants 

reported an episode of homelessness as did non-SE participants. Two-thirds of the participants reported receiving post-employment support, 

which is associated with increases in other indicators for life stability. Finally, the CBA indicated that for every dollar spent by SEs on 

participants, they realized a return to society of $2.23. Overall, the study provides moderate evidence for these findings.
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2298 Washington State Employment Security Department (2009). Assessment of the impact of WorkSource job search services: UI Claimants 

receiving WorkSource job search services compared to UI claimants receiving no WorkSource services of any kind. Seattle, WA. 

Intervention name Operating 

program/

organization 

name

Relationship to 

national 

service/CNCS 

Evaluator or evaluating organization name Location(s) of the 

study

WorkSource WorkSource ASN Washington State

Employment Security Department, Labor Market and 

Economic Analysis

Washington State

This 2009 study employs a quasi-experimental design with matched comparison groups to assess the impact of Washington State WorkSource

job search services on the probability of employment and before-tax quarterly earnings of Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants in 

Washington State. WorkSource aims to provide a more effective, consistent, and efficient approach to delivering employer and job seeker 

services to low-income, low-skilled populations. The program serves customers jointly through the integration of services delivered by 

Workforce Development Councils and the Employment Security Department labor exchange. These services include those delivered under the 

auspices of the Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services (WPRS) program for those Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants, who are required 

to search for work as a condition for continuing to receive UI benefits.

Between 2005 and 2008, three waves of administrative data were collected from 1,920 UI claimants: pre-program, treatment, and post-program. 

The study found that both male and female UI claimants who had either intermittent employment history or continuous employment had an 

increased probability of being employed if they received job search services. UI claimants with intermittent employment also had increased 

earnings as a result of receiving such services, while UI claimants with continuous employment showed no statistically significant results of 

receiving job search services. Overall the study provides moderate evidence for these findings.