Travis County makes numerous investments in workforce development activities each year. In order to understand the impact of these investments, the County has asked the Ray Marshall Center at the University of Texas to conduct an evaluation of the workforce development services it funds. The initial evaluation period is from January – September 2006, with a total budget of $39,823. Evaluation activities may continue in subsequent years.

Evaluation Components

The evaluation is organized into two areas of focus: (1) the Rapid Employment Model project, and (2) other workforce development services. These are described in detail below.

Rapid Employment Model Project Evaluation

The Rapid Employment Model project initiated by Travis County is a collaborative effort of the County, the City of Austin, WorkSource-The Greater Austin Workforce Board and area workforce service providers to decrease the amount of time an individual is out of work. The evaluation of the Rapid Employment Model project will consist of two components, a process evaluation and an outcomes evaluation.

Process Evaluation

The process evaluation will document the implementation of the Rapid Employment Model project. Service and training providers will be profiled to provide an overall picture of who they serve; what services/training they provide; typical client flows; and other information deemed relevant to the study. Information for this part of the evaluation will come from interviews with key staff, reviews of provider literature and administrative documents, as well as from observations and other sources.

Key evaluation questions include:

• What services are being provided and to whom?
• What is the intensity of the services being provided?
• What wrap-around services are available to participants?
• What placement and retention activities are being offered?
• How closely does the service delivery process adhere to the Rapid Employment Model as planned?

Outcomes Evaluation

The outcomes evaluation will document the results of the Rapid Employment Model project, including the number of clients served; number completing training; number placed in employment; wages earned; and other outputs/outcomes that can be determined largely through linked administrative data. Data for this portion of the evaluation will come from the administrative databases maintained by each provider; The Workforce Information System of Texas (TWIST); Unemployment Insurance (UI) wage records; and other sources, such as TANF and Food Stamp Employment and Training program records. We propose to use a quasi-experimental design to match Rapid Employment Model clients with similar individuals receiving other workforce services available in the region.

Key evaluation questions include:

• How effective is the Rapid Employment Model, as measured by reduced time unemployed, reduced unemployment insurance payments, employment retention and increased earnings?
• How do key participant outcomes compare to those for similar, nonparticipating individuals?
• Which skills training programs are most effective for graduates and why?
• What changes can be made to services/treatments to improve outcomes for participants?

Other Workforce Development Services

As resources allow, the evaluation will also examine the impact of the County’s investments in other workforce development services, including: services to youth, support services such as child care, and collaborative activities. The focus of this evaluation will include both process and outcomes components, with an emphasis on identifying elements for continuous program improvement. A separate statement of work will be developed for these activities as they arise.

Workforce Development Overview (PowerPoint presentation). Austin, TX: Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, The University of Texas at Austin, November 2007. 28pp.

Rapid Employment Model Evaluation: Initial Findings (December 2007). Tara Carter Smith, Christopher T. King. Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, The University of Texas at Austin. 44pp.