Written Statement to Obtain Oral Consent

APPENDIX F

Jobs Plus Evaluation Study

Written Statement to Obtain Oral Consent

For Focus Group Participants

What is the Jobs Plus Evaluation Study?

MDRC is conducting an evaluation study of the Jobs Plus Pilot Program. The purpose of the study is to understand early implementation of the program, early outcomes and costs associated with implementation. As part of this study, we are conducting focus groups with residents enrolled in the Jobs Plus program. We want to learn residents’ view the program, as well as their experience with any of the services that the program offers.

The focus group session will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We would like to audio record the interview so that we can transcribe it for accuracy.

Risks and Discomfort

There are few anticipated or known risks to participating in this focus group. Risks may include possibly feeling coerced to take part in the focus group; however, you should know that your participation in this study is voluntary, and you do not need to participate in it in order to continue receiving Jobs Plus services or any other service. If you do not wish to answer any questions for any reason, you may always “pass.” You will not be penalized in any way for not participating. If you decide to participate, you may stop participating at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.

Benefits

Your participation in the study will help us better understand how the program is being implemented.

As a token of appreciation, we will give you $25 for having taken the time to speak with us.

Confidentiality

We will record your comments during the focus group, for later review by the research team. We will not share these recordings or any other specifics about what is said during this focus group discussion with anyone else in the program or the housing development. We may include quotes or comments from this focus group in our report, but all such references will be completely anonymous. That is, neither your name nor your identity will be revealed. However, given the fact that others will be present during the focus group, while we encourage everyone here to keep confidence, we cannot guarantee that someone will not identify you as having voiced a certain opinion.

More information

If you would like more information about this study, you may contact Victoria Quiroz Becerra, Research Associate at (212) 340-4571 or [email protected]

Jobs Plus Evaluation Study

Written Statement to Obtain Oral Consent

For Interviews with Staff and Other Stakeholders

What is the Jobs Plus Evaluation Study?

MDRC is conducting an evaluation study of the Jobs Plus Pilot Program. The purpose of the study is to understand early implementation of the program, early outcomes and costs associated with implementation. As part of this study, we are conducting interviews with program staff and other stakeholders. We want to learn how each component of the program is being implemented in the development, how the Jobs Plus model is being adapted to the specific context where you operate, and any challenges faced during early implementation.

The interview will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We would like to audio record the interview so we can transcribe it for accuracy.

Risks and Discomfort

There are few anticipated or known risks to participating in this interview. Risks may include possibly feeling coerced to take part in the interview; however, you should know that your participation in this study is voluntary. If you do not wish to answer any questions for any reason, you may always “pass.” You will not be penalized in any way for not participating. If you decide to participate, you may stop participating at any time. Finally, because information we collect will be used to evaluate the Jobs Plus program, your professional reputation may be influenced by research findings.

Benefits

Your participation in the study will help us better understand how the program is being implemented.

Confidentiality

We will record your comments during the interview for later review by the research team. We will not share these recordings or any other specifics about what is said during this interview with anyone else in the program or the housing development. We may include quotes or comments from this interview in our report, but all such references will be completely anonymous. That is, neither your name nor your identity will be revealed. Although we will mask the source of any quotes, because there is a finite number of interviewees per site, however, we cannot guarantee that someone will not attribute a view to you.

More information

If you would like more information about this study, you may contact Victoria Quiroz Becerra, Research Associate at (212) 340-4571 or [email protected]