As part of the effort to help train low-income individuals for health care occupations that paid well and was in high demand, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Family conducted an in-depth evaluation of grantees who implemented the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program. Authorized by the Affordable Care Act, the HPOG Program addressed the growing need for healthcare professionals and provided stable employment to an at-risk population. MEF Associates was a subcontractor to Abt Associates under this 10-year contract. Grantees used a “career pathways” framework that provides supports to move individuals into increasingly well-paying employment in the health care arena. The evaluation team worked with 27 grantees to implement a rigorous, random assignment impact study, as well as a detailed implementation study and a cost-benefit analysis. MEF Associates led site recruitment and technical assistance tasks and participated in the implementation study and cost-benefit analysis.
