About the Study

In 2023, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO), in collaboration with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), funded independent contractor Abt Associates to conduct the evaluation of ODEP’s Equitable Transition Models (ETM) Demonstration Projects. The ETM Evaluation aims to build the evidence of strategies to enable low-income youth and young adults with disabilities (Y&YAD) ages 16-24, including those experiencing homelessness, leaving foster care, or involved in the justice system, to successfully transition into the workforce. This will include rigorous evaluation of the demonstration projects’ implementation and outcomes, as well as an evaluability assessment on the feasibility of an impact evaluation.

This Department of Labor-funded study was a result of the annual process to determine the Department’s research priorities for the upcoming year. It contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform programs and policies that impact employment and training. The project also addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

Project Duration: 60 Months

Contract End Date: June 2028

Contractor: Abt Associates

For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov

 

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.