Employment, Training, and National Service
Westat has extensive experience evaluating major employment, training, and national service programs for
adults and youth. We have also conducted studies of employment service programs, including unemployment insurance and various
forms of worker assistance.
- Westat is conducting policy evaluations and providing technical support services under its third 5-year contract with the
Corporation for National and Community Service. Since the series of contracts began, we have conducted more than 40 separate studies
for the Corporation. The Corporation administers the following:
- AmeriCorps (e.g., VISTA, National Civilian Community Corps, and state and national programs);
- K-12 and Higher Education Learn and Serve America programs; and
- National Senior Service Corps (encompassing the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, and RSVP).
Under a 30-month study of the AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), Westat evaluated the community impacts
of service projects performed by volunteers ages 18 to 25 in housing, environment, health, education, public safety, and
disaster relief.
Under a 5-year study, Westat is designing a performance measurement system for the National Senior Service Corps. We are
also developing annual state profiles reports over a 3-year period for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve
America programs.
- Westat conducted a 5-year, three-part evaluation of the Youth Opportunity Area (YOA) Demonstration grant program for
ETA's Office of Policy, Development, Evaluation, and Research of DOL. DOL selected 11 sites to serve as demonstrations of a
comprehensive approach for improving the labor market prospects of youth ages 16 to 24 in high-poverty areas. Under a subcontract,
Westat is completing a second 5-year multipart evaluation of 36 Youth Opportunity Grant Initiative projects based on the same
program model.
- Westat is conducting a 5-year study of former vocational rehabilitation consumers' post-program experiences for the
Rehabilitation Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the study is to contact a national
sample of former vocational rehabilitation consumers to determine if they retain and advance in employment and to identify
other services and supports they receive. Results will be published on the study's own web site, and other researchers will
be encouraged to use the public-use database.
- Westat conducted an intensive short-turnaround evaluation of the Women in Apprenticeship
and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant program for the Women's Bureau of DOL. We provided DOL with a
comprehensive description of all grantees and, through a series of case studies, analyzed the extent
to which measurable outcomes can be attributed to the grants.
For more information about the Employment, Training, and National Service Research Area,
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