Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Impact Study Implementation Report
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Research Methods
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U.S. Regions
U.S. States
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About the Report
The report of the Evaluation of the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Program, and as a precursor to an impact study analysis, describes the implementation of the REA program in the four states in which the evaluation study was conducted: Indiana, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin. This report and its analysis support the broader impact evaluation in two distinct ways. Most important, this report describes in detail the REA program as it was implemented across the four participating states during the study period. The description includes a review of study eligibility requirements and exclusions, provision of REA-specific services, as well as general reemployment services, claimant compliance with the program, and penalties for noncompliance. This report also discusses how a rigorous impact evaluation design was integrated into these diverse service delivery systems in a way that maintained the integrity of the study while preserving the state specific characteristics of the REA programs already operating in each state.
Research Questions
- How did states implement REA?
- What were levels of compliance with program requirements?
- How did states respond to noncompliance?
Key Takeaways
- REA interventions were relatively low-intensity, generally comprising of a few hours of group engagement and a few hours of one-on-one counseling for participants receiving full services.
- Federal requirements imposed some common structure across state REA programs, and states imposed their own requirements and implementation processes to meet local needs and goals.
- Most state programs emphasized reemployment assistance over compliance enforcement. Review of initial and ongoing eligibility does not appear to be a major focus of the program (at least in three of the four states), though, when detected, egregious issues appear to trigger some enforcement.
- Participation in reemployment services was lower than expected.
- Researchers found that surer, swifter, and more substantial penalties for noncompliance were more likely to encourage adherence to program requirements.
Citation
Minzner, A., Klerman, J., Epstein, Z., Savidge-Wilkins, G., Benson, V., Saunders, C., Cristobal, C., Mills, S. (2017). Abt Associates. REA Impact Study: Implementation Report. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.