Case Study of an Employment and Training Program Serving Single Mothers with Low Income: Climb Wyoming

This case study describes Climb Wyoming (Climb), a nonprofit organization working to help single mothers with low incomes achieve self-sufficiency through career training and placement. Climb has six locations across the state. At each program site, Climb partners with (1) training providers, to provide industry-specific career trainings that differ across sites and over time; (2) community-based organizations, to provide wraparound support services and life skills education; (3) mental health providers, to provide individual and group counseling; and (4) employers, to offer subsidized jobs that are intended to become permanent. The program consists of six to eight weeks of job training followed by job matching and a six- to eight-week fully subsidized job placement—with mental health services, support services, and life skills education provided throughout. Climb often works extensively with applicants to remove barriers to program participation before enrolling them in a program cohort, and continues to support participants after they leave the program.

This case study is part of the State TANF Case Studies project, which is designed to expand the knowledge base on innovative approaches to help people with low incomes, including TANF recipients, prepare for and engage in work and increase their overall stability. Mathematica and its subcontractor, MEF Associates, were contracted by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to develop descriptive case studies of nine innovative state and local programs. The programs were chosen through a scan of the field and discussions with stakeholders. TANF practitioners and staff of other programs can learn about innovative practices through the case studies. The studies also can expand policymakers’ and researchers’ understanding of programs that support people’s success in work and highlight innovative practices to explore in future research.