Promoting Work through Early Intervention Project (PWEIP)

Objective

The Promoting Work through Early Interventions Project (PWEIP) is a joint undertaking of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of this partnership is to better understand the effects of interventions that aim to improve the employment and economic outcomes of low-income individuals with little or no work history, current or foreseeable disabilities, and ties to the U.S. safety net, who have not yet applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). During this partnership, SSA and ACF will support rigorous evaluation of existing employment support and training programs informed by evidence and shown to be promising for SSA and ACF’s population of joint interest. Evaluations of each program will include impact evaluation and implementation research. A select number of evaluations will also include cost analysis.

Status

SSA and ACF began working together in June 2018 to review contractors’ recommendations for programs to fund, that would use promising early intervention for people wanting to start or return to paid employment. Each of the programs recommended for SSA funding were approved by our Associate Commissioner Susan Wilschke. SSA Commissioner Saul and ACF Assistant Secretary Johnson signed a Jointly Financed Cooperative Arrangement (JFCA) on August 8, 2019 to sustain the partnership, select programs for evaluation, and ensure those evaluations meet both agencies’ goals. As of February 2021, SSA approved participation in and funding to evaluate eight programs. Additional information for each of these programs, including the study/organizations, location(s), enrollment periods, and enrollment updates, is described in the Key Activities and Design section below.

PWEIP contract activities were initially set to expire in September 2023. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic effects that stymied enrollment, all projects extended their enrollment period end dates (see details below).

In September 2023, SSA and ACF agreed to extend the JFCA for an additional three-year period. All program activities are continuing and data use agreements, with exchange dates, are in place until the extended JCFA ends. As of FY2024 (Q3), one PWEIP program has reached its enrollment target and others will unlikely do so before their respective enrollment periods conclude.

A total of eight projects were jointly funded by ACF and SSA in FY2021 and FY2022. 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 programs).

Study/Organization and Location(s) Evaluation Plan Enrollment Period Enrollment Updates
Central City Concern (CCC) (OR) Provides treatment for substance use disorder, healthcare, housing, and comprehensive employment services. Oct. 2021 - Sep. 2024 Total Enrollment:
419-760
IPS - FQHC (IL and NH) Provides individual placement and support (IPS) services in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Apr. 2021 - Nov. 2023 Total Enrollment:
766-800
IPS-SUD (OK and OH) Provides IPS services to persons in substance use disorder (SUD) residential rehabilitation. July 2021 - Aug. 2023 Total Enrollment:
823-800
Complete
IPS-TANF-SNAP (WA) Provides IPS services to persons receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. July 2022 - Jan. 2024 Total Enrollment:
622-720
Study/Organization and Location(s) Evaluation Plan Enrollment Period Enrollment Updates
Bridges from School to Work (Bridges) (GA, MD, TX, NY, CA, PA, D.C.) Provides job readiness instruction, placement, and post-placement support for young adults with disabilities.  Sep. 2021 - June 2024 Total Enrollment:
933-1002
IPS-JS (OK, SC, IL, TN, IA) Provides IPS services for adults with mental health conditions recently released from the justice system (JS) or serving alternative sentences in the community. June 2021 – June 2024 Total Enrollment:
780-1028
Mental Health Outreach to Mothers (MOMS) (MA) Provides 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. Mar. 2022 – June 2024 Total Enrollment:
880-1000
Community Integrated Services (CIS) (PA) Provides employment services including job development, job matching, on-going support, and financial counseling for people with disabilities. (Pilot: June 2022 - Aug. 2022)

Sept. 2022 – June 2024
Total Enrollment:
945-1001

SSA expects to receive a final report on all PWEIP activities and evaluations on or before the expiration of the renewed JFCA, on or before the JCFA expires in September 2026.

Not applicable at this time.

Not applicable at this time.

Not applicable at this time.