Absence of conflict of interest: This study was conducted by staff from Mathematica Policy Research, which administers CLEAR. Therefore, the review of this study was conducted by an independent consultant trained in applying the CLEAR causal evidence guidelines.
Citation
Fraker, T., Black, A., Broadus, J., Mamun, A., Manno, M., Martinez, J., McRoberts, R., Rangarajan, A., & Reed, D. (2011). The Social Security Administration’s Youth Transition Demonstration Projects: Interim report on the City University of New York’s project. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.
Highlights
- This study’s objective was to measure 12-month impacts of the City University of New York (CUNY) Youth Transition Demonstration Project (YTDP) in the Bronx, one of six project sites of the larger Social Security Administration (SSA)-sponsored YTD projects that used a randomized evaluation. CUNY YTDP provided services to help youth with severe disabilities improve their employment outcomes and become more economically self-sufficient.
- Data were collected from a baseline survey and 12-month follow-up survey, the Ticket Research File (TRF), and the Master Earnings File (MEF). The authors estimated program impacts on measures of paid employment, educational attainment, and Social Security disability benefit receipt.
- The study found that CUNY YTDP had positive and statistically significant impacts on employment during the 12-month follow-up period. The study found no statistically significant impacts on earnings, educational attainment, total income, or Social Security disability benefit receipt.
- The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it is based on a well-conducted randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to CUNY YTDP, and not to other factors.
Intervention Examined
The Youth Transition Demonstration Projects, The City University of New York
Features of the Intervention
The YTDP in Bronx, New York, was one of six project sites using a randomized design as part of the larger SSA-sponsored YTD, which intended to help youth with disabilities become more self-sufficient and improve their employment outcomes. From 2006 to 2010, CUNY’s John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education implemented the YTDP project to young Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients ages 14 to 19 with severe disabilities. YTDP provided events and information to engage parents and family members; group activities, workshops, and benefits counseling for youth; and individualized employment services. A guaranteed summer job was a key component of the program.
All YTD participants were also eligible for waivers that (1) extended the student earned income exclusion to all YTD participants who attended school regardless of age, (2) increased the earned income exclusion to a $1 reduction in SSI benefit for every $4 earned above a base amount, and (3) delayed benefit cessation for YTD participants who were determined ineligible for benefits after a benefit review or age-18 SSI medical redetermination.
Features of the Study
The study was a randomized controlled trial that randomly assigned 492 youth to the treatment group and 397 to the control group. Data were collected from a baseline survey, a 12-month follow-up survey, and the SSA’s TRF and MEF. The TRF supplied data on benefit receipt status, benefit amounts paid, and disabling condition, whereas the MEF provided baseline earnings information. Regression-adjusted impacts were estimated for several outcomes, such as paid employment, earnings, educational attainment, monthly Social Security disability benefit receipt, and total income from earnings and benefits.
Findings
- The study found that CUNY YTDP had a positive and statistically significant impact on employment over the 12-month follow-up period. Treatment group members were 9.0 percentage points more likely to have ever been employed over that period than control group members.
- YTDP had no significant impacts on earnings, total income, or Social Security disability benefit receipt over the follow-up period.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
Almost all of the youth were still in school during the study period and, therefore, had limited employment opportunities. In addition, 79 percent of youth assigned to the treatment group enrolled in YTDP during the study period. The impact on employment could reflect the summer employment component of the YTDP.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it is based on a well-conducted randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that the effects estimated in the study are attributable solely to CUNY YTDP, and not to other factors.