Single Parent Employment Support Program (SESP) SESP Presentation Presentation to Welfare to Work: The Next Generation Forum

Introductions and Overview SESP Presentation Purpose Background Goals and Objectives Program Components Evaluation Approach Evaluation Findings Summary Key Factors Challenges

Purpose SESP Presentation Provide an overview of SESP as a best practice Value of collaborative partnership approach between government and agency Value of an external evaluation process Value of combining income supplementation and employment support program elements

Background SESP Presentation HRE Mandate Redesign Value of partnership Supporting Work Belief people want to work Complex set of factors requiring long term solutions Reduce disincentives in income support policy and programs Provide employment supports help people obtain and maintain employment Empirical evidence - to test thesis that social programs achieve goals and are cost effective HRE and SPAN partner to design, deliver, and evaluate pilot

Goals and Objectives SESP Presentation Main goal is to assist unemployed single parents who receive income assistance achieve increased financial independence by helping them prepare for, obtain and maintain employment Key objectives include: Enable single parents to be financially "better off" through accepting and maintaining employment Provide the supports needed to address employment barriers Be simple in delivery Result in savings to the Income Support Program Provide "lessons learned" for the re-design of the Income Support and Employment Program

Program Components SESP Presentation A job readiness/job search skills component (6 weeks) Supports of child care and transportation for initial 10 weeks of program Person supports while working e.g. problem solving An Earned Income Supplement (EIS) that makes it financially rewarding for single parents to accept work and advance Formula used to calculate EIS Supplement Varies - $ $2.50 per hour Maximum rate $ per month Higher rates for more hours of work and/or for higher hourly wage rates

Evaluation Approach SESP Presentation Evaluation Committee External Consultant Formative Evaluation - goals and outcomes Summative Evaluation

Evaluation Findings SESP Presentation 318 single parents (August December 2001) Barriers Child care Job search Other barriers to employment Acquisition of Employment Found employment at higher rate than comparison group 80% obtained employment

Evaluation Findings SESP Presentation Retention Maintaining employment Advancing within the labour market Leaving Income Support Benefits Breaking intergenerational dependence on Income Support Reduced use of drug card Improved self confidence and self esteem Improved quality of life

Evaluation Findings SESP Presentation Benefits/Costs 36% of participants had left Income Support by end of June 2003, compared with 21% of comparison group A total of 103 (32.4%) no longer is in receipt of income support benefits Costs incur over short period Benefits accrue longer term Cost neutral position achieved 2 1/2 years To the end of June Net gain $296,184 for first nine groups

Summary Key Factors SESP Presentation Clients self identify Key components delivered by community agency Income supplement Earned Rewards progression for increasing hours worked and amount earned Provided ongoing support while people worked Cost-effective way to support clients move from Income support Value of employment and personal supports and EIS based on the needs of the client

Challenges SESP Presentation Fiscal year funding Transferability to less urban settings Building community capacity/partnership Other client