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Figure 2.1 Center for Employment Opportunities: Random Assignment Flow Chart
Text description: This flow chart shows the process for enrolling participants into Center for Employment Opportunities study. The flow begins with participants in attendance at CEO’s enrollment class, which occurs every Friday morning. There is an arrow leading to a decision box that asks if the client is eligible for the research study. There are two possible paths leading out of that decision box. The first path shows what happens if a client is not eligible for the research. The ineligible client does not go through random assignment and is automatically placed in Neighborhood Work Project (NWP) and receives standard NWP services. If the participant is eligible for the research, the chart depicts a path that leads to another decision box, which asks whether there are enough participants present in the class to fill the number of NWP slots required that week and meet random assignment requirements. If not enough clients are present, there is no random assignment, and all participants are placed directly into NWP and receive standard NWP services. If there are enough clients in attendance, random assignment occurs, and clients are randomly selected for either the NWP or the Resource Room groups. Client who are placed in NWP receive a four-day life skills class, NWP employment, job coaching, job development, and other services, including access to CEO’s fatherhood program. Clients who are placed in the Resource Room group receive a shorter version of the life-skills class, which lasts one and a half days, and access to a staffed resource room for job search activities.
(back to Figure 2.1)
Figure 3.1 Early Head Start: Random Assignment Flow Chart
Text description: This chart illustrates the steps taken to conduct random assignment when a family comes in to apply for enhanced Early Head Start (EHS) services in Kansas and Missouri. After a family completes an application for services, an EHS employee determines the family’s eligibility and assigns the family a priority score. Next, the EHS employee determines if the applicant family fits any of the exclusionary categories set forth by the program. If the family fits one of these categories, the family is exempted from the random assignment process and is given the next EHS slot available. If the family does not fit one of the exclusionary categories, the EHS employee explains the study to the parent completing the application, obtains a signed informed consent form, and asks the EHS applicant family to complete the Program Information Form and contact sheet. Once these research activities are completed, the family is then placed on the waiting list. When an EHS slot becomes available, the EHS employee (1) notifies the top two families on the waiting list and verifies their interest in receiving EHS services; (2) verifies that the Program Information Form is completed and that call-in information is correct and readily available; (3) calls MDRC to perform random assignment with the top two families on the waiting list and records assignment information; and (4) informs the families of their research assignment. If the family is randomly assigned to the EHS group, the family fills the available program slot and is enrolled in EHS services. If the family is randomly assigned to the non-EHS group, the family is given a list of available programs in the community. (back to Figure 3.1)
Figure 4.1 Two Service Models for Welfare Recipients: Random Assignment Flow Chart
Text description: This flow chart shows the sample intake process for the Philadelphia Hard-to-Employ Evaluation. The first box indicates the target sample, which includes hard-to-employ Philadelphia TANF applicants and recipients. The second box indicates that once potential participants are identified, they complete the initial paperwork and sign a consent form indicating that they agree to participate in the study. The third box indicates that random assignment takes place. Three boxes extend from this box, indicating the three groups that participants may be assigned to: 37.5 percent are assigned to the Transitional Work Corporation (TWC) group, which receives a transitional work placement plus wraparound activities; 37.5 percent are assigned to the Success Through Employment Preparation (STEP) group. This is a program emphasizing assessment and treatment of barriers to employment, which is run by Jewish Employment and Vocational Service (JEVS); and 25 percent are assigned to the Voluntary Services group and are not required to participate in any activities. (back to Figure 4.1)
Figure 5.1 Working toward Wellness: Random Assignment Flow Chart
Text description: This figure illustrates the process through which individuals were recruited and randomly assigned into the research sample. To begin, a letter and brief mental health screener was mailed to all working-age parents in Rhode Island who were eligible to receive Medicaid behavioral health care through United Behavioral Health (UBH). Only individuals who responded to this screener and whose answers suggested that they were at risk for depression were then interviewed by a clinical care manager via telephone. This diagnostic interview began with a detailed series of questions relating to mental health; in particular it contained the QIDS-SR, which is a good measure of major depression. Of those interviewed by telephone, only those whose responses to the QIDS-SR suggested that they were likely experiencing major depression completed the full interview. However, even some of the individuals identified as having major depression were excluded from the research. This was done in cases where the person also appeared to be simultaneously experiencing bipolar disorder or substance dependence, or was at high risk for suicide. Those who met all of these study criteria were next asked additional questions useful for baseline data (for example, socio-demographic information), and were then randomly assigned to either the program or control group. Those in the program group began receiving telephonic outreach and care management as needed. Those in the control group received a letter indicating that they may be depressed and recommending treatment available through UBH. (back to Figure 5.1)
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