This report documents the implementation and early impacts of the Pathways to Healthcare program, operated by Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Pathways to Healthcare is one promising effort to help low-income, low-skilled adults access and complete occupational training that can lead to increased employment and higher earnings. It is one of nine career pathways programs being evaluated under the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families. The evaluation of Pathways to Healthcare included:

(1) an implementation study, and
(2) an impact study in which program applicants were assigned at random to a “treatment” group who could access the program or a “control” group who could not can compared their outcomes after 18 months.

The implementation study found that Pathways to Healthcare was implemented mostly as intended. More than 60 percent of the treatment group participated in basic skills education or in occupational training. Nursing Assistant was the most commonly attended training. The impact study found that the treatment group attended significantly more hours of occupational training (the primary outcome measured in this report) than the control group. Additionally, the treatment group was significantly more likely than the control group to: enroll in college occupational training, earn college credentials (degrees, certificates), and participate in advising such as career counseling, to receive help arranging supports, and to receive job search assistance.

Future reports will examine whether these effects translate into gains in employment and earnings.

Pima Community College Pathways to Healthcare Implementation and Early Impact:

Report

Executive Summary

Appendices

Short Brief