Pathway Home Reentry Evaluation

• Workforce Supports for the Reentry Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Issue Brief, October 2022)
• Pathway Home Grant Program: Implementation Evaluation Design and Overview of Impact Evaluation (Evaluation Design Report, September 2022)
  • Summary

• What are the most rigorous evaluation options feasible for assessing the impact of the Pathway Home Reentry grant program on participant outcomes?
• How were programs implemented? What factors influenced implementation? What challenges did programs face in implementation and how were those challenges overcome? How did implementation vary by institution type (correctional facilities or jails)?
• What is the impact of the Pathway Home Reentry Grant Program on participant employment, earnings, and recidivism?
• To what extent do impacts vary across selected subpopulations of transitioning offenders (e.g., institution type, type of offense, age, veteran status)?

• Develop the knowledge base
• Conduct an impact feasibility assessment and develop evaluation design options
• Conduct an impact and implementation evaluation (optional tasks)

Issue Brief:

• Grantees that reported more established partnerships and stronger communication channels with correctional facilities appeared to be better positioned to implement their Pathway Home program during the COVID-19 pandemic, including conducting recruitment, obtaining referrals, and gaining access to the facilities.
• Grantees reported that early release policies at correctional facilities in response to COVID-19 hampered enrollment into the program and participation. Individuals were released early to reduce overcrowding, making them ineligible for the program or reducing their time in pre-release services. Grantees found it helpful to have a partner who would commit to providing timely information on release dates, such as someone in the correctional facility or the local prosecutor’s office.
• To address COVID-19-related restrictions, Pathway Home grantees and their correctional partners reported an expansion of technology in facilities such as providing participants with tablets and using DocuSign for paperwork, to improve the virtual outreach, intake, and enrollment processes.
• Staff turnover at both grantees and correctional facilities was reported to pose substantial implementation challenges, as did social distancing restrictions. Grantees reported modifying their office layouts and policies, and updating the occupational training courses they offered through the program to adhere to social distancing policies.
• Grantees reported that the strong labor market in 2021 increased the jobs available for participants and employers’ interest in Pathway Home programs (as a source of potential employees), but decreased participant interest related to training and employment services (because jobs were readily available). Grantees had to develop creative approaches to engaging participants, including providing incentives for participating in the program, and using social media to stay in contact with participants after release.

Issue Brief

Sandoval, M., Rakibullah, S., Yanez, A. (2022). Mathematica and Social Policy Research Associates. Issue Brief: Workforce Supports for the Reentry Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

Evaluation Design Report

Sattar, S., Yanez, A., Geckeler, C., Jarrett, N., Nelson, E., Rakibullah, S., Stein, J., Sandoval, M. (2022). Mathematica, Social Policy Research Associates, and Council of State Governments Justice Center. Evaluation of the Pathway Home Grant Program: Implementation Evaluation Design and Overview of Impact Evaluation. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.