2014 Parents or Guardians Focus Groups - Participants

ATTACHMENT D
FOCUS GROUP PROTOCOLS

YOUTH FOCUS GROUP CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE
The Social Security Administration is sponsoring a study of the [PROMISE/ASPIRE]
program to learn how it is working and how it can be improved. The study is being
conducted by a team of researchers at Mathematica Policy Research and BCT
Partners. Thank you for your interest in this very important study. By signing this form,
you are agreeing to take part in the study. As a participant in this study, the following will
happen:
1) You will complete a short form to provide a description of your background.
2) You will participate in a group discussion with researchers and other
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to talk about your experiences
with [PROMISE/ASPIRE] and the services you have received.
The decision to participate in the study is up to you. All information that is collected
about you through today’s discussion or agency records will be kept private to the
extent allowed by federal law. The information we collect will be used for research
purposes only. Your name will never be used in any reports and no information will be
reported in any way that can identify you. You have the right to refuse to answer any
questions on the background information form or during the group discussion.
I have read this form (or it has been read to me). I understand the information in
these materials and voluntarily agree to participate. If I have any questions, I can
call a member of the study team at the toll-free number 1-8xx-XXX-XXXX.
__________________________________________
PARTICIPANT’S NAME (Printed)
__________________________________________
PARTICIPANT’S SIGNATURE

DATE

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 90 minutes per
respondent. Send comments concerning this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information to [agency and address]. According to the United States federal government Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to
a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. The OMB control number for this information collection is 0960-XXXX. Expiration Date [date].

D.1

YOUTH BACKGROUND INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE
Before we begin the discussion group, please take a few moments to answer some
questions about yourself. Your answers will help us learn more about you and your
background, which we can use to better understand the comments and experiences you
share with us today. We will not identify you or share your specific answers—we will
only report your answers combined with everyone else’s. Thank you!
1. How old are you? _____________
2. What is your gender?  Male

 Female

3. How old were you when you began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
If you do not know, please write in “don’t know.” _____________
4. Please describe the disability for which you are receiving SSI:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5. Are you currently enrolled in school (please check all that apply)?:
 Yes, enrolled in high school
 Yes, enrolled in GED program
 Yes, enrolled in vocational training program
 No, not enrolled in school
Thanks again for completing this questionnaire!

D.2

YOUTH FOCUS GROUP PROTOCOL
Introduction
My name is [name] and I am from [Mathematica /BCT Partners]. We are doing a study on the
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] program. My understanding is that you are signed up to be in
[PROMISE/ASPIRE]. We are holding discussion groups with people in [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to
learn more about their experiences with the program.
What we learn from you today will help [state] do a better job of helping youth who are
receiving SSI with school and work.
As you have been told, at the end of today’s discussion group, you will receive a $10 gift card
for talking with us today.
Your participation in this discussion group is voluntary. There is no risk to you for
participating. Whether or not you participate in the discussion will have no effect on your SSI
benefits. At any time before or during the discussion, you can choose to not participate. Also, you
do not have to answer any question you don’t feel comfortable answering.
Everything you say today will be kept private to the fullest extent allowed by law; however, we
may need to tell someone if keeping that information private could harm you or someone else.
Otherwise, the information will be shared only with our study team. Nothing you say will be linked
to your name and our reports will not identify you in any way.
I also want to let you know that I am not an expert on SSI, so I cannot answer questions or give
advice about your SSI benefits or your personal circumstances.
The discussion should last about 90 minutes. I hope you will share your experiences and
opinions freely in our discussion. To respect the privacy of other people in the group, please don’t
talk about or share anything you hear today. In order to have a great conversation, please speak
clearly and one at a time. It is okay to disagree with one another, but please do not argue.
I will be jotting down notes during our conversation. Also, with your permission, I will record
the discussion to make certain I have accurately heard everything you said. The recording will only
be available to the [Mathematica/BCT] study team and will be destroyed at the end of the study.
Please raise your hand if I do not have your permission to record the conversation. [Facilitator: do not
record conversation if there is any objection.]
Before we begin, I am going to check to make certain the recorder is working properly.
[Facilitator: hit the record button, say a few words, stop the recording, and play back what you’ve recorded to ensure
that the equipment is not only functional, but that the volume is good.]
Does anyone have any questions before we begin? Ok, if there are no more questions, let’s get
started. [HIT THE RECORD BUTTON].
I have hit the record button. Everyone in the room has agreed to being recorded and to
participating in the discussion. We’ll begin by doing introductions—we will go around the room.
Please tell us your first name and how long you have been participating in the [PROMISE/ASPIRE]
program.
D.3

A.

Enrolling in [PROMISE/ASPIRE]
Let’s start by talking about how you first heard about [PROMISE/ASPIRE] and signed up.
1. How did you first learn about [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
a. Did you receive a call or a letter about [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
b. Who told you about the program?
c. Did you see information about the program somewhere, like on a flyer?
2. Why did you decide to sign up?
a. What about the program interested you?
b. What did you hope to get out of [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
3. Did you have any concerns about the program, any worries that it might not be right for
you? Please tell me about your concerns/worries.
4. Did you have to do anything to sign up for [PROMISE/ASPIRE] or did your
parent/guardian sign you up for the program?
a. What did you have to do? Did you fill out paper work? Go to a meeting?
b. Was it easy to sign up for the program? Difficult (and why)?

B.

Case Management
1. I would like to hear about your experiences with your [PROMISE/ASPIRE] [case
manager/program job title for case manager]. A [case manager/program job title for case
manager] is the person who … By a show of hands, how many of you have a
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] [case manager/program job title for case manager]? [Facilitator: state
the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording] Tell us about your
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] [case manager/program job title for case manager].
a. How often do you talk to each other? How do you typically talk to each other (e.g.,
telephone, in-person, texting)? Would you like to talk with him/her more, less, or is
this about right?
b. What kinds of things do you talk about?
PROBE: education and employment goals/service needs (i.e., assessment),
individualized education program (IEP)/transition plan issues
2. How helpful has your [case manager/program job title for case manager] been?

D.4

a. What has been most helpful? What has been least helpful?
b. Is there anything you would change about your [case manager/program job title for
case manager] or the services he/she provides? Are there additional things you
would like your case manager to help you with that he/she is not doing?

C.

Education Services
Now, let’s talk about [PROMISE/ASPIRE] activities related to school and education.
1.

By a show of hands, how many of you are currently in school? [Facilitator: state the number of
hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording]
a. What are your education goals/plans?
PROBES: go back to school, get your GED, graduate from high school, go to
college or a trade/vocational school
b. How do you think [PROMISE/ASPIRE] can help you reach those goals?

2. Have you taken any classes in school to help you learn how to live on your own when you
are done with school? What did you think of those classes? Were they helpful? Why or why
not?
3. What services related to your education have you used through [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
PROBES: vocational education/training classes, GED classes, peer support workshops,
support at IEP meetings.
a. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why? What
services were least helpful? Why?
b. For those who have not used any education-related services, why not? What might have
encouraged you or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing about them, flexible
hours, more accessible location, different types of services, shorter wait times)?
4. Are there education-related services you want but haven’t gotten? What services? Why
haven’t you gotten them??

D.

Employment and Employment Preparation/Support
Now, let’s talk about your work experiences and activities you have done in
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] to help you get or keep a job.
1. By a show of hands, how many of you are currently working at a job? [Facilitator:]
state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording
D.5

For those who are working:
a. Tell us about your job. What do you do there? How long have you been working
there? How many hours per week do you work there? Do you get paid? How much
do you earn?
b. How did you find this job? Did your [PROMISE/ASPIRE] case manager/program
job title for case manager] help you? How?
c. Do [PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff ever visit you at this job—like your [case
manager/program job title for case manager] or a [job coach/program job title for
job coach]? How often and what happens during those visits?
d. Overall, what do you think about this job? What do you like best? What do you like
least? What have you learned at this job?
For those who are not working:
a. Have you ever had a job before?
b. Did anyone from [PROMISE/ASPIRE] help you find that job? How?
c. When did your last job end?
d. Why did you stop working there?
The next questions are for everyone, whether you are working right now or not:
a. What are your employment goals for the future?
b. What type of job would you like to have when you get older?
c. How do you think [PROMISE/ASPIRE] can help you reach those goals?
2. What things have you done through [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to help you find a job?
PROBES: job site tours, resume preparation, career counseling, mock interviewing, job search
workshops

a. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why?
What services were least helpful? Why?
b. For those who haven’t used these services, why not? What might have encouraged
you or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing about them, flexible hours,
more accessible location, different types of services, shorter wait times)?

D.6

3. Are there work-related services you want but haven’t gotten? What services? Why haven’t
you gotten them?

E.

Other Program Services
1. What other [PROMISE/ASPIRE] services or activities have you used?
PROBES: benefits counseling, money management workshops, life skills classes, work
accommodations training and assistive technology support, peer support groups, adult
mentors
a. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why?
What services were least helpful? Why?
b. For those who didn’t use these services, why not? What might have encouraged you
or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing about them, flexible hours, more
accessible location, different types of services, shorter wait times)?
2. Are there services you want or need but haven’t gotten? What services? Why haven’t you
gotten them?
3. Have you done any [PROMISE/ASPIRE] activities together with your parents/guardians?
a. What activities?
b. Was it helpful to have your parents/guardians there? Why or why not?
4. (Facilitator: only ask questions specific to your state)
IN AR and MD ONLY:
Has PROMISE helped you pay for anything you or your family has needed, like gas or other
transportation costs or equipment to help you work? What kinds of things has PROMISE
helped pay for?
IN WI ONLY:
By a show of hands, how many of you have received a tablet with a data plan from
PROMISE? [facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording]
What have you used this for? Has it been helpful? Why or why not?
IN WI ONLY:
By a show of hands, how many of you have opened a savings account with help from
PROMISE? [facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording] Has
it been easy or difficult to have a savings account? Why?

D.7

F.

Wrap Up

To finish up, I would like everyone to think about all of the things they have done in
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] and tell me:
1. What has been your overall experience with [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
a. What have you liked best? What have you liked least?
b. Would you recommend [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to others your age? Why or why not?
2. What comments or advice about [PROMISE/ASPIRE] would you give to the people who
designed the program? Is there anything you think they should have done differently?
Those are all the questions I have. Thank you so much for participating in this important discussion.
Please don’t leave before I give you your gift card for your participation. I will be asking you to sign
this form so that I have a record that you received a gift card. Thank you again.

D.8

PARENT/GUARDIAN FOCUS GROUP CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE
The Social Security Administration is sponsoring a study of the [PROMISE/ASPIRE]
program to find out how it is working and how it can be improved. The study is being
conducted by researchers at Mathematica and BCT Partners. We thank you for your
interest in participating in this important study. By signing this form, you are agreeing to
take part in the study. As a participant in this study, the following will happen:
1) You will complete a short form to provide a description of your background.
2) You will participate in a group discussion with researchers and parents or
guardians of other Supplemental Security Income (SSI) youth to talk about your
experiences with [PROMISE/ASPIRE] and the services you have received.
It is your decision whether or not to participate in the study. All information we collect
about you through the discussion group or agency records will be kept private to the
extent allowed by federal law and the information will be used for research purposes
only. Your name will never be used in any reports and no information will be reported in
any way that can identify you. You may decline to answer any questions on the
background information questionnaire or during the group discussion.
I have read this form (or it has been read to me). I understand the information
provided in this form and voluntarily agree to participate. If I have questions I can
call a member of the study team at toll-free number 1-8xx-XXX-XXXX.
__________________________________________
PARTICIPANT’S NAME (Printed)
__________________________________________
PARTICIPANT’S SIGNATURE

DATE

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 90 minutes per
respondent. Send comments concerning this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information to [agency and address]. According to the federal government’s Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB
control number for this information collection is 0960-XXXX. Expiration Date [date].

D.9

PARENT/GUARDIAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE
Please take a few moments to answer some questions before we begin the discussion group.
This will help us learn more about you so we can better understand the comments you share
with us today. We will not identify you or share your specific answers; we will only report your
answers combined with the responses of the other discussion group participants. Thank you!
1. How old are you? ____________
2. What is your gender?  Male
3.

 Female

Are you (please check one box):
 Married, living with your spouse
 Married, living apart from your spouse
 Unmarried, living with a partner
 Unmarried, not living with a partner

4.

How long has your child been receiving SSI? ___________years ___________months

5. Please describe the disability for which your child is receiving SSI:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
6.

Do you yourself have a disability for which you are receiving SSI or SSDI?  No

 Yes

(If yes, please describe your disability below)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
7.

What is the highest level of education you have completed (please check one box)?
 Less than high school
 High school diploma or GED
 Some college, no degree
 Associate’s degree
 Bachelor’s degree or higher

8.

Are you currently enrolled in a training or education program?

9.

Are you currently employed (check one box)?
 No
 Yes, full time (35 or more hours per week)
 Yes, part time (less than 35 hours per week)

D.10

 No Yes

PARENT/GUARDIAN FOCUS GROUP PROTOCOL
Introduction
My name is [name] and I am from [Mathematica /BCT Partners]. I will facilitate our discussion
today. We are doing a study on the [PROMISE/ASPIRE] program. My understanding is that you
have a child who is signed up to be in [PROMISE/ASPIRE]. We are holding discussion groups with
children in [PROMISE/ASPIRE] and separate groups with their parents or guardians to learn more
about their experiences with the program.
What we learn from you today will help [state] do a better job of helping youth who are
receiving SSI benefits with school and work.
As you have been told, at the end of the discussion, you will each receive a $10 gift card for
talking with us today.
Your participation in this discussion group is voluntary. There is no risk to you participating.
Whether or not you choose to participate in this discussion, there will be no effect on your child’s
SSI benefits or on the SSI benefits of anyone in your family. Before we begin or at any time during
the discussion, you can choose to not participate. You also do not have to answer any question you
don’t feel comfortable answering.
Anything you say today will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible by law. This
means that we will keep everything you say here today private, unless that information could cause
harm to you or to someone else. Otherwise, the information will be shared only with our study
team--not with anyone who handles SSI benefits or earnings. Nothing you say will be linked to your
name and our reports will not identify you in any way.
I also want to let you know that I am not an expert on SSI, so I cannot answer questions or give
advice about benefits or your personal circumstances.
Today’s discussion should last about 90 minutes. I hope you will share your experiences and
opinions freely in our discussion. To respect the privacy of other people in the group, once today’s
discussion group ends, please don’t share or talk about anything you’ve heard anyone else say. As
part of the discussion, you can disagree with each other, but please do not argue.
During our discussion, you might see me jotting down notes. Please do not be alarmed, I am
listening; the notes will help me keep track of ideas that come up that I want to follow up on. In
addition, with your permission, to make sure I hear everything you have to say, I will record the
discussion. The recording is for research purposes only, will only be available to the
[Mathematica/BCT] study team, and will be destroyed at the end of the study. Do I have your
permission? Please raise your hand if I do not. [Facilitator: do not record conversation if there is any
objection.]
So we get a good recording, please speak clearly and one at a time. Before we get started, I’m
going to test the recorder. [HIT THE RECORD BUTTON. SAY A FEW WORDS. PLAY IT
BACK].
Does anyone have any questions before we begin our discussion?
D.11

Okay, let’s get started. [HIT THE RECORD BUTTON].
I have hit the record button. Everyone in the room has agreed to being recorded and to
participating in the discussion. Let’s begin by going around the room and having each person
introduce him or herself by first name and telling us a little bit about the child that brought you to
this group today.
A.

Enrolling in [PROMISE/ASPIRE]

Let’s start by talking about how you first heard about the [PROMISE/ASPIRE] program and
how you signed up for it.
1. How did you first learn about [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
a. Did you receive a call or a letter about [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
b. Who told you about the program?
c. Did you see information about the program somewhere, like on a flyer?
2. What did you have to do to sign up for [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
a. Did you fill out paper work? Go to a meeting?
b. Was it easy to enroll in the program? Difficult (and why)?
3. Did you have any concerns about the program? Any worries that it might not be right for
you or your child?

B.

Services for Youth
Let’s talk next about what you think of the services your child has received so far from
[PROMISE/ASPIRE].
1. What services has your child received so far?
PROBES: vocational education or GED classes, career counseling, job search and job skills
classes, paid work opportunities, work accommodations, benefits counseling, life skills
classes, case management
2. What services have been helpful? Why? What services have not been so helpful? Why?
3. Do you think [PROMISE/ASPIRE] is doing enough for your child? What else could it be
doing?

D.12

C.

Services to Promote Parent/Guardian Involvement
1. Before hearing about and enrolling your child in [PROMISE/ASPIRE], by a show of hands,
how many of you thought your child would be able to support him/herself and live
independently someday? [Facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the
recording]
2. Before enrolling in [PROMISE/ASPIRE], what were your hopes and expectations for your
child’s future?
3. By a show of hands, how many of you currently think your child will be able to support
him/herself and live independently someday? [Facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the
number becomes part of the recording]
4. Has [PROMISE/ASPIRE] changed your hopes and expectations for your child’s future?
How?
5. What kinds of things has [PROMISE/ASPIRE] done to encourage you to help your
children do well in the program and at school or work?
PROBES: encourage you to attend individualized education program (IEP) meetings, help
you set expectations for your child?

D.

Staff and Peer Support for Parents/Guardians
1. Do you ever communicate with any [PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff one-on-one? (What
staff?/Title?)
If so:
a. How often do you talk to each other? How do you typically talk to each other (e.g.,
telephone, in-person, texting)? Would you like to talk with [PROMISE/ASPIRE]
staff one-on-one more, less, or is this about right?
b. What kinds of things do you talk about?
If not:
c. Is there someone at [PROMISE/ASPIRE] you could reach out to with any
questions you may have or to raise concerns?
d. How comfortable do you feel reaching out to [PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff to ask
questions or raise concerns?
2. Have you ever been in any support groups with other parents or guardians in
[PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
D.13

a. How helpful were these groups?
b. What kinds of things did you talk about?

E.

Services for Parents/Guardians
Now, let’s talk about [PROMISE/ASPIRE] activities you yourself have received.
1. First, by a show of hands, how many of you are currently in school or a training program?
[Facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording]
Have you used services through [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to help you stay in school, do better
in school, or go back to school? [PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff may have provided these
services or referred you to services provided by other organizations.
PROBES: vocational education classes, GED classes, peer support workshops
c. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why? What
services were least helpful? Why?
d. For those who have not used any education-related services, why didn’t you use them?
What might have encouraged you or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing
about them, flexible hours, more accessible location, different types of services, shorter
wait times)?
e. Are there education-related services that you would like to receive through
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] but haven’t gotten? What services? Why haven’t you gotten
them??
2. By a show of hands, how many of you are working? [Facilitator: record response]
Have you used services through [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to help you find or keep a job or to
get a better job? [PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff may have provided these services or referred
you to services provided by other organizations.
PROBES: resume preparation, career counseling, mock interviewing, job search workshops, job site
tours

a. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why?
What services were least helpful? Why?
b. For those who haven’t used these services, why didn’t you use them? What might
have encouraged you or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing about

D.14

them, flexible hours, more accessible location, different types of services, shorter
wait times)?
c. Are there work-related services that you would like to receive through
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] but haven’t gotten? What services? Why haven’t you gotten
them?
3. Have you used services through [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to help you manage your money?
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] staff may have provided these services or referred you to services
provided by other organizations.
PROBES: individual benefits counseling, money management workshops
a. For those who used these services, what services were most helpful to you? Why?
What services were least helpful? Why?
b. For those who didn’t use these services, why didn’t you use them? What might have
encouraged you or made it easier for you to use them (e.g., knowing about them,
flexible hours, more accessible location, different types of services, shorter wait
times)?
c. Are there money-management services that you would like to receive through
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] but haven’t gotten? What services? Why haven’t you gotten
them?
d. Do you think about what will happen to your household income if your child begins
to work and becomes more independent? Has [PROMISE/ASPIRE] changed your
thinking about this at all? How?
4.

Have you yourself participated in any other [PROMISE/ASPIRE] activities? What
activities? What did you think of them? Were they helpful? Why or why not?

5.

(Facilitator: only ask questions specific to your state)
IN AR and MD ONLY:
Has PROMISE helped you pay for anything your family has needed, like food, gas or other
transportation costs, or work clothes? What kinds of things has PROMISE helped pay for?
IN WI ONLY:
By a show of hands, how many of you have received a tablet with a data plan from
PROMISE? [Facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording] What
have you used this for? Has it been helpful? Why or why not?
IN WI ONLY:
By a show of hands, how many of you have opened a savings account with help from
PROMISE? [Facilitator: state the number of hands raised so the number becomes part of the recording] Has it
been easy or difficult to have a savings account? Why?

D.15

6.

Have other members of your family participated in any [PROMISE/ASPIRE] activities? If
yes:
a. Which family members and which activities?
b. What did they think of these activities?
c. Were they helpful? Why or why not?

F.

Wrap Up

To finish up, I would like everyone to think about all of the things you and your child have done in
[PROMISE/ASPIRE] and tell me:
1. What has been your overall experience with [PROMISE/ASPIRE]?
a. Would you recommend [PROMISE/ASPIRE] to other families like yours? Why or
why not?
2. What comments or advice about [PROMISE/ASPIRE] would you give to the people who
designed the program?
Those are all the questions I have. Thank you so much for participating in this important discussion.
Please don’t leave before I give you your gift card for your participation. I will be asking you to sign
this form [Facilitator: hold up form] so that I have a record that you received a gift card. Thank you
again.

D.16