Research as Administrative Burden in Nonprofit Settings: Evidence from Texas

This seminar at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will present the findings of Marci Ybarra, Associate Professor, School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Her findings relate to data collection and challenges of reporting outcomes by social service agencies. Dr. Ybarra was named an Emerging Scholar in 2015 by the Self-Sufficiency Research Clearinghouse (SSRC). The seminar will take place on November 15, 2018 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Record Type
Event
Posting Date
Combined Date
Source
Partner Resources
Sponsor
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Research on Poverty
Location
Institute for Research on Poverty
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1180 Observatory Drive
3412 William H. Sewell Social Sciences Building
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Web Url
http://today.wisc.edu/events/view/127470
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Performance Outcome Measures
TANF Redesign
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Event Date
-

Why Leave Benefits on the Table? Evidence from SNAP

Record Description
This working paper from the Upjohn Institute identifies how over half of registering households in multiple states leave SNAP within one year of entry, rather than complete administrative requirements to receive benefits. The paper’s author studied Michigan and combined administrative SNAP and Unemployment Insurance records; findings are relevant for case managers in states other than Michigan.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-05-20T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://research.upjohn.org/up_workingpapers/288/
Publication Date
2018-05-21
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

State Strategies to Meet the Needs of Young Children and Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis

Record Description
This National Academy for State Health Policy report spotlights initiatives undertaken by Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Virginia to combat the opioid crisis and support citizens affected by opioid use. Interviews conducted with state officials in Medicaid, child welfare, and behavioral health provision roles resulted in recurring themes of effective practices, including care access for at-risk children and parents, family-focused and trauma-informed care, and sharing data and funding across systems. After discussing multi-agency strategies for helping those affected by opioids, the report also offers ways to support children and families. These include expanding training for child-service professionals, removing stigma against medication-assisted treatment so that children can remain in their biological homes, coordinating funding streams, and bridging gaps between state systems serving children and families.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-08-31T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://nashp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Children-and-Opioid-Epidemic-1.pdf
Publication Date
2018-09-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Implications of Substance/Opioid Misuse and Addiction for the Workforce Development System Webinar

Record Description
Greater awareness of the opioid epidemic and its impact on participants and employer partners as well as on workforce service delivery is needed. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hosted a webinar on October 18, 2018 to discuss Federal efforts to support communities in addressing workforce challenges associated with the opioid crisis. Participants learned about the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment for people with substance use disorders and those at risk of developing these disorders.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-10-18T10:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.workforcegps.org/events/2018/08/21/13/36/Implications-of-Substance-…
Publication Date
2018-10-18
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Innovative Programs

UTEC Social Enterprise Employment for Proven-Risk Young Adults

Mission/Goal of Program

UTEC’s mission and promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged young people to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. UTEC measures the social and economic success of its mission through Reduced Recidivism, Increased Employability, and Increased Educational Attainment. Founded in 1999 in response to gang violence in Lowell, MA. They serve older youth (ages 17-25) from Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill, MA who have histories of incarceration or serious gang involvement. UTEC is nationally recognized as a model agency serving justice-involved young adults.

UTEC offers paid work experience in social enterprises as part of a holistic model for impact young adults. When impact young adults succeed, our communities see the greatest positive impact on public safety, public health, and economic development. The long-term recidivism rate for UTEC young adults averages less than 20%, compared with a statewide average above 50%.

Programs/Services Offered

The program includes a variety of programs:

  • Street outreach and correctional facility in-reach; gang peacemaking
  • Paid work experience in UTEC social enterprises: Mattress Recycling, Food Services, and Woodworking
  • Earn certifications including OSHA and ServSafe option
  • Intensive wraparound supports throughout the self-paced program, with average enrollment of 18-24 months
  • Integrated education for HiSET/GED attainment and dual-enrollment options
  • 2Gen programming with co-located early education center and family engagement activities
  • Social justice and civic engagement embedded throughout the model
  • Transition to external employment and 2 years of follow-up services

In FY18, UTEC served 148 young adults in their intensive enrollment program, and nearly 600 total including Streetworker outreach and engagement. Of enrolled young adults, 94% had a criminal record; 66% lacked a high school credential; and 52% were expecting/parenting. Despite these barriers, young adults achieved:

  • 97% had no new convictions or technical violations;
  • 88% had no new arrests or technical violations;
  • 63% received an industry-recognized certification.

Outcomes for young adults included (FY17):

  • 99% of UTEC enrolled young people had no new convictions;
  • 90% of UTEC enrolled young people had no new arrests;
  • 32% of young people who attended HiSET classes earned their credential this year.

Of participants who completed programming 2 years ago:

  • 94% had no new arrests since leaving UTEC;
  • 78% are currently employed and/or enrolled in post-secondary education.
Start Date
Friday, January 1, 1999
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-Based Organization
City
Lowell
State
Massachusetts
Geographic Reach
Multisite
Clientele/Population Served
Young adults ages 17-25 with histories of serious criminal and/or gang involvement
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Education and Training
Supportive Services
Special Populations
Incarcerated and Individuals with a Criminal Record
Youth in Transition
URL
https://utecinc.org/
Innovative Programs

Connections to Success

Mission/Goal of Program

Originally founded in 1998 as Dress for Success Midwest, Connections to Success is a nonprofit organization serving Kansas, Missouri and Illinois that empowers individuals in their transformation to economic stability. As an OFA Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education grantee, CTS provides workforce training, life coaching, relationship education, and intergenerational support to low-resourced individuals and families.

Their mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by helping people living in challenging situations re-establish hope, get connected with needed resources and implement a plan to reach economic independence.

Programs/Services Offered

Connections to Success (CTS) uses a holistic, evidence-based model to help individuals and families gain social capital and achieve economic independence. The organization’s approach is intergenerational, focused on improving outcomes for both parents and their children through programming and collaborations with other service providers. CTS’s model integrates training opportunities, life transformation coaching, support services and job development to equip participants for long-term success. CTS offers ongoing support to foster continued growth and career advancement. Through its holistic Pathways to Success model, CTS targets families impacted by generational poverty, incarceration, and unemployment. The model includes a Personal and Professional Development workforce training and focuses on healthy relationships, parenting, employment services, life coaching, education and skills training, volunteer engagement, and mentoring.

Interagency collaboration has been key to the program’s success. By having multiple partners involved, the team has been able to help remove barriers many individuals coming out of prison face. For example, the team helped enroll the men in SNAP, secure housing, and meet with Child Support and Probation and Parole. Additionally, employers participated in mock interviews and representatives from an apprenticeship program shared opportunities. CTS also provided new suits to each of the men, and many received job offers.

CTS focuses on intergenerational impact to ensure outcomes extend beyond the immediate future and empower the next generation. Of CTS program graduates, 74% become employed and 70% retain employment at nine months following initial employment. Additionally, 82% of those employed received earnings increase within six months of employment. CTS participants involved in the organization’s reentry programs have experienced a 14% recidivism in 12 months after release from incarceration, and for those who also participated in their mentoring program, the recidivism rate is only 8% (compared to the national average of 44%). 

Start Date
Thursday, January 1, 1998
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-Based Organization
City
St. Charles
State
Illinois
Kansas
Missouri
Geographic Reach
Multistate
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income individuals and families transitioning from generational poverty, incarceration, domestic violence and other challenging and disadvantaged situations
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Assessment
Job Readiness
Mentoring
Supportive Services
Post-employment Supports
Special Populations
Homeless Families
Incarcerated and Individuals with a Criminal Record
URL
https://connectionstosuccess.org/

HHS Blog: Strong Social Networks Help to Eliminate Barriers to Economic Opportunity

Record Description
This blog from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, authored by OFA Director Clarence H. Carter, is part of the Self-Sufficiency Series: Solutions from the Field, which profiles local programs from across the country finding solutions to accomplish the goals of encouraging self-sufficiency and personal responsibility, eliminating barriers to economic opportunity, and supporting strong families and healthy marriage. In particular, Circles USA and Open Table are highlighted for their efforts to boost the social capital individuals need to help them work towards self-sufficiency.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2018-09-12T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.hhs.gov/blog/2018/09/13/strong-social-networks-eliminate-barriers-t…
Publication Date
2018-09-13
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Do Job Training Programs Work? Wrong Question.

Record Description
In an Aspen Institute blogpost about job training programs, an argument is made about what should be done to make the broad category of “job training” work. The post emphasizes expanded funding to compensate people for the transportation, employment, and child care barriers they may face when deciding to attend job training. Furthermore, looking at labor market realities and long-term outcomes is important in the design and implementation of effective services, as is recognizing the limits of job training in a stagnant and structured labor market.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-09-03T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/of-interest/do-job-training-programs-work-wrong-…
Publication Date
2018-09-04
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

State and Local Policy Levers for Increasing Treatment and Recovery Capacity to Address the Opioid Epidemic: Final Report

Record Description
The continuing opioid crisis is a major public health issue, and it extends across the domains of public assistance programs and workforce development as well. This report by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviews the medication-assisted treatment initiatives that five case study states have undertaken to identify effective practices in offering and expanding treatment. In addition, the authors discuss financing and workforce policies from which policymakers can draw. Potentially effective “policy levers” across states include expanding Medicaid services for medical treatment, using targeted grant funds, creating hubs of care, and instituting stigma-reducing programs.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-08-06T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/state-and-local-policy-levers-increasing-trea…
Publication Date
2018-08-07
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Implementing the Next Generation of Parole Supervision: Findings from the Changing Attitudes and Motivation in Parolees Pilot Study

Record Description
This study from the MDRC focuses on a parole intervention curriculum for parole officers called Next Generation (NG) to decrease recidivism rates. The study focuses on understanding how NG was implemented as it was piloted in the three sites and assesses NG-trained parole officers’ fidelity to the NG model. To visualize a contrast between the NG implementation and typical practices that NG intends to replace, the study also included a second group of parole officers who were not trained in NG. The groups were not randomly assigned.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-04-30T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.mdrc.org/publication/implementing-next-generation-parole-supervision
Publication Date
2018-05-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)