Youthbuild Program: Analysis of Outcome Data Needed to Determine Long-Term Benefits

We recommended that the Secretary of HUD analyze closeout reports by grant and share information on identified problems and best practices with its technical services contractor and Labor. HUD contracted with a Youthbuild technical assistance provider to develop a methodology to analyze the closeout performance reports for the past several years. In August 2008, Partners for Community Solutions supplied HUD with a draft report. The background section cites the GAO recommendations and states that the report was being done in response to those recommendations. The report reviewed 205 final reports from 143 Youthbuild organizations between 2000 and 2003. It concluded that several best practices and common impediments were found which should help existing Youthbuild organizations manage their programs more effectively and help new grantees to design programs based on years of refinement from other grantees.

In a letter dated 4/24/2007, DOL wrote that it agreed with the recommendation and was building a web-based MIS that will collect individual data for all Youthbuild participants enrolled in the program. The letter also said that Youthbuild grantees will be required to collect and report on individual demographics, assessment information such as educational achievement, services, and outcomes including placement in employment/education, attainment of degree/certificate, retention rates, recidivism rates, wage rates, etc.; that DOL will collect the data quarterly; and that DOL will aggregate the data at the grantee level as well as share the data with grantees. In the 2007 Youthbuild Program Notice of Funds Availability, DOL confirmed that grantees will be required to submit quarterly progress reports, including in-depth information on accomplishments and progress towards performance outcomes, including updates on products, curricula, and training development.

We reported that data showed that 90 percent of Youthbuild programs not funded for 3 consecutive years ceased operations. In commenting on the draft report, the Department of Labor's (Labor)Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training in a February 2007 letter wrote that Labor agreed that there could be value on multiyear funding and that the Department was considering such an approach. In a letter dated April 24, 2007 the Assistant Secretary wrote that she agree that there is value in developing a multi-year grant cycle and that it was weighing options for providing multiple years of funding in the grant announcement that would be published in the spring of 2007. The grant announcement, dated April 26, 2007 stated that applicants can apply for three-year grants.