Programs may still be cost-effective and may play a crucial role in turning around the lives of particular young people. The needs of young people are many and varied. Therefore, no single intervention can be expected to deal with the whole range of problems. This heterogeneity of client needs means that what works for some people will not work for others. In examining program effectiveness, attention needs to be paid to variations among sub-groups.
Most effective programs provide sustained adult contact.
The key factors are that there be ongoing contact with an adult over an extended period of time and that it includes elements of monitoring, as well as support. The overall goal is to provide the participants with structure and the motivation to do well. The modest program impacts mentioned can result from two very different targeting strategies. When designing a program, it is necessary to decide whether it is more important to provide broad coverage or to provide help to those who need it the most. In the case of the former, a program can make a modest impact in the lives of many people whose employment problems are not too serious.