Closing the Gap between Survivors & Workforce Development Programs
By Kristen Parsons, Research Associate
Sanctuary for Families’ (SFF) Career Readiness Training Program (CRTP) provides workforce development programming for survivors of gender-based violence. In an evaluation of the program, the Urban Institute offers a set of recommendations for workforce development providers to best serve and support the unique needs of these participants
For survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, financial independence is a critical step in forging new opportunities and repairing past harm. However, research has consistently shown that they face persistent barriers to employment and financial self-sufficiency,[1] many of which are a consequence of the abuse: survivors may have inconsistent or sporadic work histories, limited skill sets, repeated work absences, and loss of employment, or be deeply in debt. To address these unique challenges, survivors often require more intensive supports to successfully enter or remain in the workforce, including focused education and work strategies, mental health and substance use treatment, and safe housing.[2]
New York-based Sanctuary for Families (SFF)—which advocates for and offers services to survivors of domestic violence—has offered the Career Readiness Training Program (CRTP) for over a decade from its Manhattan office. The CRTP is a structured, four-month job training program for survivors of gender-based violence designed to help them and their families achieve long-term financial independence. Through the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII), the CRTP was funded to open a second location in the Manhattan Family Justice Center alongside other service providers, with a goal of reaching more survivors of domestic violence and helping them establish careers and achieve financial stability. The Urban Institute recently completed a process and outcome evaluation of the program to assess the program implementation and impact.
The evaluation demonstrated significant program impact in career readiness and workforce entry. Specifically, clients improved on 7 of 11 key outcomes:
Obtained office technology certifications
Enhanced literacy and quantitative skills, including reading, mathematics and language
Expanded professional development skills and career knowledge
Boosted confidence in career outlook
Improved self-esteem
Increased capacity for financial self-sufficiency
Gained employment
Most notably, the proportion of clients who were employed full- or part-time increased from 18 percent to 42 percent by one year after completion. These outcomes are especially notable given the evaluation was conducted during the height of COVID-19, where obtaining employment was particularly challenging for people of all backgrounds.
From these findings, other workforce development programs can learn from the evaluator’s recommendations on how to best serve survivors of violence and prepare them for employment through flexible program policies and enhanced job training opportunities.
Balance flexibility and accountability in program policies
Survivors often juggle competing needs while participating in programming. Court appearances, coordinating childcare, and attending healthcare appointments, for example, may interfere with attendance. Workforce development programs should acknowledge these competing needs and try to balance accountability and flexibility. SFF facilitators worked to strike this balance, but some CRTP clients found the strict attendance policy to be burdensome. While punctuality and attendance are important skills in the workplace, programs should meet survivors where they are and offer assistance in managing any absences or requests for accommodations so that survivors can meaningfully participate in the curriculum.
“It’s helpful, I wasn’t [originally] able to use the computer at all,” shared one survivor; “Now I can use [one].”
Another way to support survivors in workforce development programming is to offer hybrid or virtual sessions. Programs often operate on fixed schedules at specific locations, which may be inaccessible to those balancing work, childcare, and other responsibilities. By offering some programming online, survivors may no longer need to account for travel time or secure childcare to attend sessions. That said, survivors may need financial assistance to ensure they have the necessary equipment and software to participate. For example, SFF staff quickly pivoted to remote learning at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering laptops to CRTP clients, ensuring secure connections to the Internet, incorporating new online tools (e.g., Google Classroom), and utilizing technical support from SFF’s IT department, which was viewed favorably by participants. “It’s helpful, I wasn’t [originally] able to use the computer at all,” shared one survivor; “Now I can use [one].”
Enhance the variety and types of trainings to support different career paths
Traditional workforce development programs often offer trainings in specific high demand jobs with few mandatory qualifications (e.g., restaurants, home health care). While these positions are accessible to survivors and initially provide much needed financial support, some may not set up survivors for long-term success or offer a living wage. For example, workforce development programs may support participants in clerical roles in law firms, but these positions can have limited opportunities for growth and financial growth. Perhaps most importantly, employment options that programs have traditionally emphasized ultimately may not be of interest to survivors. Workforce development programs should consider offering trainings in a greater variety of fields, such as education or technology. Although SFF has developed strong corporate partnerships for employment and internship opportunities, one SFF client decided not to participate in the CRTP specifically because of what she perceived to be limited career pathways. Providing trainings in growing fields that are relevant to survivors’ interests will help increase their chances of obtaining and maintaining employment.
The skills gained through virtual trainings could support survivors in securing a flexible remote job, which could be particularly beneficial to those with limited transportation or childcare options.
Similarly, programs should also consider identifying low- to no-cost online trainings focused on less traditional employment paths, such as coding or camera training, which would increase survivors’ competitiveness in the workforce. The skills gained through virtual trainings could support survivors in securing a flexible remote job, which could be particularly beneficial to those with limited transportation or childcare options. Incorporating flexibility into program policies along with increased training topics and modalities would allow more survivors to engage in employment-based supports that normally would not be accessible.
About the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) and the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII)
The CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance manages the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII), which was established by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2015. ISLG provides technical assistance, conducts oversight, measures performance, and manages all CJII grantees.
The CJII focuses on three investment areas—crime prevention, reentry and diversion, and supports for survivors of crime. The Career Readiness Training Program (CRTP) and this evaluation were funded through the CJII’s investments in Victims of Crime. This blog accompanies the Urban Institute’s final evaluation report of the CRTP. Its earlier findings are available here.
[1] Eyster, Lauren, and Demetra Smith Nightingale. 2017. “Workforce Development and Low-Income Adults and Youth: The Future under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.” Washington, DC: Urban Institute.
[2] Ibid.
Photo by Flamingo Images on Adobe Stock.