Data Constructs for YTD

Youth Transition Process Demonstration

Data Constructs

Education and Training

Description: We collect educational and training activities from the time of random assignment until the date of the 12-month follow-up interview for all participants. This includes frequency and duration of school and training programs. For those in school, we ask level of school or training, type of classes, accommodations, special education services received (if any), and reasons for leaving school or training if not attending at the time of the 12-month follow-up interview. Those with IEPs are asked about their participation in the IEP process. Participants who have not attended school during the reference period are asked their highest level of educational attainment.

Data Collection Schedule: A full battery of educational items is asked at the 12-month follow-up interview. At baseline, a limited set of items gathers current educational status, training activities, participation in special education, and highest level of educational attainment.

Employment

Description: We ask about any work for pay from the time of random assignment until the date of the 12-month follow-up interview. For each job during that time, we ask industry, occupation, duration, hours worked, pay, benefits, and if the job was school sponsored or sheltered. For current jobs, we also ask about job satisfaction and how the youth found the job. For those who are neither working nor in school at the time of the 12-month follow-up interview, we ask reasons why not employed or in school.

Data Collection Schedule: A full battery of employment items is asked at the 12-month follow-up interview. At baseline, a limited set of items is asked if the respondent has worked for pay or in a volunteer capacity during the past year and month.

Service Utilization

Description: We ask about receipt of any YTD or YTD-like services from the time of random assignment until the date of the 12-month follow-up interview. We collect the type of service and provider, duration and intensity of services from each provider, and reason for no longer receiving services (if applicable). For those who get services from the YTD program, we ask for satisfaction with the program and staff. For non-participating treatment group members, we ask why they have not participated in the YTD program.

Data Collection Schedule: A full battery of service utilization questions is asked at the 12-month follow-up. There are no service utilization questions at baseline.

Awareness of SSA Waivers and Work Incentives

Description: We ask two general questions to capture understanding of Social Security benefits and work rules. We ask about awareness of SSA work incentives including PASS, the general- and student- earned income exclusions, continued Medicaid eligibility while working, and IDAs. To avoid acquiescence bias, we follow-up each positive response with a factual item about the incentive or support. We also ask if the incentive or support has been used during the reference period. We ask all respondents about the age 18 redetermination and who they would turn if they needed information about their Social Security benefits.

Data Collection Schedule: Awareness of waivers and incentives is asked at the 12-month follow-up interview only.

Health

Description: We ask about both health and functional status. Health items include the SF-12 to gather general ratings of physical and mental health (including depression), self-reported disability, and if the youth ever sought treatment for substance abuse. Functional items include ADLs, IADLs that we have modified to ask about activities for youth (deciding how to spend money, making snacks or sandwiches, and riding public transportation alone), use of mobility and communication aids, and if the youth has a personal care attendant.

Data Collection Schedule: General health and disability are asked only at baseline. The full SF-12 and substance abuse treatment are asked only at the 12-month follow-up. A full functional battery is asked a baseline. IADLs are updated at the 12-month follow-up.

Self-Determination, Social Activities, and Expectations About the Future

Description: We ask about future plans for education, employment, independent living, and intent to get a driver’s license. The self-determination items include Pearlin’s Mastery Scale. We also ask how often the youth gets together with friends for social activities.

Data collection schedule: The respondent’s goals for independent living, education, and employment are asked at both baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. All other items are asked only at the 12-month follow-up.

Criminal Behavior

Description: Criminal behavior items include if the youth has ever been stopped or questioned by police, arrested, in jail, or on probation, and if yes, whether this happened since random assignment. We also ask about gang membership.

Data Collection Schedule: This information is asked at the 12-month follow-up only.

Demographics

Description: We ask participant-level demographics, including gender, date of birth, ethnicity, race, presence of a legal guardian, marital status, household composition including household size and language spoken at home, supportive housing or foster care, household income including public transfers, and health insurance status. As a proxy for socio-economic status, we ask parents’ education and employment status.

Data Collection Schedule: Personal characteristics for the youth and his or her parents are asked at baseline. Household and marital status are updated at the 12-month follow-up.

Contact Information

Description: To facilitate locating for the next interview, youth are asked to provide contact information for themselves, their parents or guardians, and one or two others who do not live in their household.

Data Collection Schedule: Contact information is updated at each round of data collection.