Scale
Statement of the Objective:
Agree on a comprehensive earn and learn program model based on best practices — and pilot new elements for Philadelphia — that has the capacity to help thousands of Philadelphians who need to work outside the primary labor market address their multiple barriers to full labor market participation and meet new workforce standards that will qualify them for advancement through post-secondary-level training and education.
Philadelphia Works Role:
• Locate and evaluate proven earn and learn models
• Work with appropriate partners to select the specific population(s) to take part in the pilot
• Identify employment opportunities to support those participating in the pilot while they learn
• Find external funding to support the pilot phase and identify additional funders for further implementation at scale, city-wide.
Partnership Role:
• Mayor’s Commission on Literacy: Lead the efforts to coordinate literacy and educational services with employment strategies; help identify priority populations for the pilot
• Education and training professionals: Help customize the learning model for Philadelphia
• Human service organizations: Provide support services to program participants Pathway to the two-year objective:
• Step one: With a work group identified with the MCOL, define the hardest-to-serve population;
start March 2013; complete April 2013.
• Step two: Identify models that work in urban settings for similar population and that have outcome data on employment and that show the potential for expanding to serve other population groups. This search will be completed and then organized into a table with a checklist by PW; start May 2013; complete August 2013.
• Step three: Create a formal advisory group for the project consisting of board members, partner agencies, and subject matter experts. Develop a regular meeting schedule (PW); start July 2013;
complete August 2013.
• Step four: Select critical elements and design a program that includes wrap-around social services led by Philadelphia Works staff with assistance of literacy and workforce partners,
target population experts, and other programming specialists. Start September 2013; complete November 2013
Benchmark/key milestone 1: Program design completed for the defined population and advisory group in-place with a regular meeting schedule.
• Step five: Develop a budget; create marketing materials, and approach funders for pilot funding (PW). Start November 2013; complete December 2013
• Step six: Identify funding and other needed services to begin the initiative. Start November 2013; complete January 2014.
Benchmark/key milestone 2: Funding applications submitted to at least three grantors who have been approached and showed interest.
• Step seven: Create a timeline for launch and complete all preparation activities while waiting for funds. Start January 2014; complete June 2014.
Benchmark/key milestone 3: Funding secured and all planning/preparation completed
• Step eight: Launch the first phase of the pilot and track progress using exploratory evaluation methods. Start June 2014; completed November 2014.
• Step nine: Using the evaluation and data outcomes, adjust the model. Start November 2014;
complete December 2014.
• Step ten: Expand the size/target population and launch the second phase of the model using a structured case study evaluation process. Start January 2015; complete April 2015.
• Step eleven: Using the evaluation and data outcomes, adjust the model and develop plan for expansion to other population groups. Start April 2015; complete May 2015.
Final Benchmark: program testing completed – launch program to mid-scale; June 2015.
Year-five benchmark: 5,000 individuals complete the program by March 2018 Resources
Internal resources redirected: Evaluation, data collection and database maintenance and analysis staff Consultant/temp worker: Project manager to oversee the program, attend all advisory meetings and benchmark monthly progress, provide technical assistance to providers and bring together links to workforce opportunities as each cohort moves towards the end of their program. Career
planner/business developers working in coordination with PA CareerLink® staff to identify post-secondary training/education and job opportunities for graduates
External funding: $400,000 for two years for the pilot – for citywide adoption: $3,000,000 - $5,750,000.
Commitments and Agreements
Memberships/advisory groups: The advisory group identified along with MCOL will help determine the target population, review existing models and develop the program design. After each phase is
evaluated, this group will provide information on best practices and work to reduce costs per enrollee.
Program coordination: The Mayor’s Commission on Literacy is the primary organizing partner. Other partners are identified when the population of hardest-to-serve is identified.
Funder/granter buy-in: This project will initially have higher costs (from $2,000 - $3,840 per person) than what can be sustainable in a larger program. One idea is to attract a longer-term funder that might allow frontloading costs if we accept the goal to find the minimum cost to achieve set targets.
Statement of Outcome(s)
• Identified and documented best practices to move a low-literate population to a stage of readiness for employment, post-secondary education/training
• Participants pass Community College of Philadelphia entrance exam without requiring remedial courses
• Higher wages and full-time employment for most participants completing the program
• Higher job retention rates of participants after placement
• Over time, demonstrated continued learning after completion of the program
• 1,200 complete the program in the first two years