Project Descriptions

AAI grants aimed to expand registered apprenticeship into sectors with few apprentices (e.g., healthcare, IT, manufacturing) and to populations historically underrepresented in apprenticeship, including women and people of color. Abt’s evaluation included four sub-studies: (1) an implementation study; (2) an outcomes study of apprentices; (3) an employer return on investment study; and (4) an impact study of employer outreach activities on engaging employers in apprenticeship. For the study, Abt interviewed employers and program staff, conducted surveys of students and employers, and compiled and analyzed multiple sources of administrative data sources.

This project advanced the career pathways evidence base by analyzing career trajectories and occupational transitions in the labor market, conducting a meta-analysis of characteristics associated with career pathways program impacts, and using machine learning and natural language processing to distill career pathways implementation lessons from a large volume of websites. The study developed and analyzed novel measures of advancement and created a public interactive dashboard to share findings.

Abt reviewed how racial bias in employment processes can present barriers for workers of color and explored strategies to address these biases. Key activities included interviews, a comprehensive literature review, and identification of promising practices. Outputs included a series of practitioner briefs for HR managers and DEI papers focused on disrupting barriers and understanding structural bias.

Abt supported the launch of a new technical college in Kansas City providing non-degree training in high-demand fields: biotechnology, software development, and advanced manufacturing. Abt advised on KPI development, data systems, and evaluated implementation and student outcomes. The project concluded with a lessons-learned presentation to inform future CTE initiatives.

The HPOG Program addresses the shortfall in the supply of healthcare workers and the difficulties workers without post-secondary education face in earning enough to support their families. Abt conducted multiple studies of these grants to assess their impact (on credential receipt, employment, earnings) and implementation. Work also included designing, building, and managing a customized management information system that grantees used to enroll participants, conduct random assignments, track participant progress, and generate the required progress reports. Abt synthesized knowledge from career pathways research and practice to develop options for new HPOG program designs, performance measures, and measurement techniques.

Abt conducted research on effective sectoral training partnership strategies to improve economic outcomes and advance equity and well-being for workers, particularly those from underrepresented and historically marginalized populations. Abt interviewed staff to document the landscape of grantees’ strategies to create training programs that were accessible to workers from all backgrounds and provided them with required skills in locally high-demand occupations. The research also sought to understand promising approaches for engaging employers in these training efforts. The study included designing options for rigorous evaluations of USDOL grant programs designed to meet critical workforce needs: one focused on training for jobs in nursing and another for infrastructure-related jobs in fields such as IT and manufacturing.

Abt Global and FareStart have partnered in a mixed-methods evaluation of FareStart’s Food Pathways and Barista and Customer Service culinary sector programs, exploring which program components and employer engagement strategies are associated with stronger employment outcomes for participants. FareStart, a nonprofit social enterprise, trains adults from low-income backgrounds, many of whom face significant barriers to employment, including individuals experiencing homelessness, impacted by the criminal legal system, and experiencing mental health challenges.

Abt conducted an implementation evaluation of USDOL’s SUPPORT to Communities grantees in four states, focused on addressing the economic and workforce impacts associated with the high rates of substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder. Grantees directed funds to sub-grantees at the local level (e.g., local workforce development boards). Abt studied subgrantees’ collaborations with employers and industry organizations, treatment and recovery centers, education providers, legal services, law enforcement organizations, community-based and faith-based organizations, and other key partners to implement grant-funded programs. The evaluation documented operational lessons for the field through sites visits and analysis of administrative data.

Abt and its partner, the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California Berkeley completed a Landscape Assessment Study for Cal ICH to identify how state funding is used, to examine strategies supported by the state and other funders, and to assess how organizations collaborate within and between jurisdictions and how the homeless service system is linked to other systems including income and employment supports.

In 2023, DOLA contracted Abt to conduct the Statewide Homelessness Landscape Analysis. The Landscape Analysis will inform the State of Colorado’s investments and efforts to create a future where homelessness is rare and brief when it occurs, and no one gets left behind.

Currently, under a contract with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Abt is tracking federal and state policy and funding decisions and how changes to the federal and state landscape will impact Los Angeles County response to homelessness. Abt has served in a variety of roles for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, including as the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) partner for ten years (2011-2021). A particular emphasis of Abt’s work for Hilton has been to understand the impact of their investments in ending chronic homelessness. After a required change in roles due to Board policy to limit MEL partners to a maximum of ten years, Abt continues to provide evaluation support to the Foundation on critical topics, such as understanding the impact of California’s Project Roomkey and the community’s response to homeless encampments across Los Angeles County

In spring 2024, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) contracted with Abt Global to review its Housing Affordability Grantmaking Strategy. To assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the Strategy, Abt designed a mixed-methods evaluation based on three data collection and analysis activities: (1) review of grant documentation, (2) collection of administrative data related to grantees, and (3) interviews with selected grantees, other funders, housing advocates, and CZI staff.