The Effectiveness of Community Employment Programs for Social Assistance Recipients

An Evaluation of the City of Winnipeg’s Community Services Programs

Authors

  • Harvey Stevens Manitoba Department of Family Services Winnipeg, Manitoba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.012.005

Abstract

The City of Winnipeg’s community services programs (CSPs) are examples of the “work experience” approach to helping social assistance recipients find employment. Like other evaluations of work experience programs, this assessment finds the CSPs effective and cost-beneficial, in the short run, in reducing dependency on social assistance. Unlike most program assessments, however, this evaluation measures participants’ length of involvement in the program and finds there is an optimal duration of involvement. A quasi-experimental design is used to assess the program’s net impact on participants’ subsequent length of stay on assistance. Self-selection bias is assessed, and multiple-regression analysis is used to control for differences between program and comparison group members and to determine the unique impact of program participation and length of participation.

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Published

1997-03-01

How to Cite

Stevens, H. (1997). The Effectiveness of Community Employment Programs for Social Assistance Recipients: An Evaluation of the City of Winnipeg’s Community Services Programs. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 12(1), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.012.005

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (1998): Spring

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 1997 Harvey Stevens

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