Workforce Development Program Creates Pathways to Financial Independence for Survivors of Abuse
By Kristen Parsons, Research Associate
New evaluation findings show that Sanctuary for Families’ Career Readiness Training Program is helping intimate partner violence survivors develop professional skills and improve their sense of self by expanding the capacity of its program to create pathways to financial independence.
Approximately one-third of women in the United States will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at some point in their lives. Although the physical and psychological impact of abuse are often discussed, less attention has been devoted to the financial and employment-related consequences of abuse on survivors and interventions to address them. IPV interferes with survivors’ career development and ability to maintain economic independence. Depression and anxiety as a result of abuse has also been shown to increase absences from work and diminish performance. Because of this, service providers and researchers have advocated for further investment in and understanding of career development programs to establish survivors’ financial independence and autonomy more broadly.
Sanctuary for Families is one of the largest victim service providers in New York City and expanded its Career Readiness Training Program (CRTP) with funding from the New York Country District Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII) in late 2017. The CRTP is an intensive job training program divided into two modules:
A two- to three-week Career Readiness Workshop
A 13-week Office Operations Workshop.
Participants in the CRTP have additional supportive services available through Sanctuary, including occupational therapy, internships, and external referrals.
Interim findings from an ongoing evaluation by the Urban Institute indicate that the CRTP reached more survivors through its expansion; had a positive impact on seven identified participant outcomes; and successfully transitioned to remote services during the onset of COVID-19.
CJII Funding Allowed More Survivors to Participate in the CRTP
Sanctuary expanded the CRTP to a second location within the Manhattan Family Justice Center, a center that houses various victim service providers and reaches more than 10,000 survivors annually for counseling, crisis assistance, and tangible supports. Nearly half (49%) of participants served from Fall 2017 through Summer 2020 were engaged at the Manhattan Family Justice Center compared to Sanctuary’s central office location, indicating that the new site allowed access for survivors who may not have otherwise been aware of, or able to attend, Sanctuary’s program.
CRTP Positively Impacted Survivor Career Readiness and Overall Wellbeing
Participants showed significant gains in seven of ten measured short-term outcomes. Survivors demonstrated progress in
the use of office technology (such as Microsoft Office Suite)
literacy
reading, mathematics, and language skills
high school-level knowledge
professional development and career readiness skills.
For example, more than two-thirds of program completers obtained Microsoft Office Suite certifications in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and another one-third earned additional certifications in advanced Excel and QuickBooks.
Participants also showed improvements in perceptions of themselves and their abilities. After participating in the CRTP, clients experienced an increase in self-esteem, confidence in their future career path, and feelings of safety. Thus, interim evaluation findings show that Sanctuary’s CRTP not only helps create a pathway for financial independence but also alleviates employment challenges related to self-perception and overall well-being.
Sanctuary Successfully Continued Programming During the Onset of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by rising domestic violence rates. Many communities have suffered loss of employment opportunities as well as housing and food instability. Despite these challenges, Sanctuary was well-positioned to continue the CRTP remotely. Staff obtained laptops for CRTP participants who did not have access to personal computers. Sanctuary also provided an additional remote meeting to participants each week for emotional support and help navigating the challenges of the pandemic.
Conclusion
The CRTP evaluation, conducted by the Urban Institute, is funded through the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII) of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (DANY). The mid-evaluation findings demonstrate how the CRTP helps survivors through expanded program capacity; development of professional skills and improved sense of self; and ability to adapt programming to further support participants. The Urban Institute plans to administer a third wave of participant surveys and conduct comparison group interviews of survivors who received services through Sanctuary, but did not enroll in the CRTP specifically. The final evaluation findings will be available in summer 2022.
About the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII)
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII) focuses on three investment areas—crime prevention, reentry and diversion, and supports for survivors of crime. The CRTP is funded through the Increase Access to Survivors of Crime Initiative, whose goal is to break down barriers to care for survivors of traditionally underserved groups, such as people of color, immigrants, and the D/deaf/HOH, thereby improving public safety. About half (46%) of CRTP participants identified as immigrants and more than three-quarters (79%) were unemployed at the start of the program.
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance manages and provides technical assistance to CJII contractors, and conducts oversight and performance measurement throughout the lifetime of the initiative.