RETURNS TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THE HIGHLY DISADVANTAGED - WHATDOES IT TAKE TO MAKE AN IMPACT

The author presents an evaluation of a job-training demonstration prog ram that targeted highly disadvantaged individuals residing in a high unemployment community for delivery of customized job-training and int ensive case-management and supportive services. She found that geograp hical targeting aided the effort to recruit and cost-effectively serve the highly disadvantaged. Despite their disadvantages, demonstration program participants achieved significantly higher wages and earnings at termination than did comparison group members, and the program prod uced a statistically significant earnings impact for participants over a 2-year period Participants who received on-the-job training experie nced the largest earnings gains, although on average, the program's ef fects diminished over time. The author recommends extending the provis ion of intensive cafe-management and supportive services into the post placement period to increase employment retention.