Promoting Work through Early Intervention Project (PWEIP)

Description

The PWEIP is a five-year joint undertaking of Social Security and the Department of Health and Human Service's Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The project seeks to evaluate early intervention programs and employment support models designed to produce favorable economic outcomes among low-income individuals who have little to no work experience and ties to broader public assistance programs (e.g., Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and SSI). Social Security's primary interests include evaluations of programs that support individuals with current or foreseeable disabilities who are at risk of applying for SSI as well as persons facing opioid and other substance abuse issues.

A total of eight projects were jointly funded by ACF and SSA (in FY2021 and FY2021). ACF established contracts with two firms, MDRC, responsible for Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) programs, and Mathematica, responsible for Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (Next Gen). 
 
BEES programs:

  • Central City Concern (site is in OR) that provides treatment for substance use disorder, healthcare, housing, and comprehensive employment services.
  • IPS-FQHC (sites in IL and NH), an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) intervention for people served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
  • IPS-SUD (sites in OK and OH), providing IPS services to persons in substance use disorder (SUD) residential rehabilitation.
  • IPS-TANF/SNAP program providing IPS services to persons receiving TANF and SNAP assistance (WA).

NextGen programs:

  • Bridges from School to Work (Bridges), an employer-driven program that provides job readiness instruction, placement, and post-placement support for young adults with disabilities using an extensive network of employer partners for enrollees' job interviews and placements (selected sites planned in GA, MD, TX, NY, CA, PA, D.C.)
  • The Community Integrated Services (CIS) program offering a range of employment services for people with disabilities that includes job development, job matching, on-going support and benefits and financial counseling (PA).
  • IPS intervention for persons involved with the justice system (IPS-JS) for adults with mental health conditions recently released from jail or prison or serving alternative sentences in the community (OK, SC, IL, TN, IA).
  • Mental Health Outreach to Mothers (MOMS) program adding IPS services to a structured, community-based intervention using cognitive behavior therapy to improve the outcomes of children by improving the mental health and economic security of their mothers (MA).

Status

Social Security will begin supporting the evaluations and/or service provisions of select programs associated with two existing ACF projects, Building Evidence on Employment Strategies for Low-Income Families and the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies beginning in 2019 through 2023