Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and scope of those variables impacting the level of performance pertaining to postwage measures for those program participants (dislocated workers) who exited from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program during a chosen time period/benchmark. As such, this examination may lead to significant program evaluation gains in terms of the replacement wage rate (and with other key program qualitative and quantitative measures) such that the program maximizes its return on investment, while providing value to the public. Theoretical framework. The theoretical framework of this study is based upon the theoretical foundations of: program evaluation, intergovernmental relations, network management, diffusion of innovation, implementation, public sector collaboration, and public program performance. Methodology. The study's research method was quantitative in nature and as such analyzed key variables relating to the WIA program through the use of a secondary data set. As such, this approach was deductive in nature. From a quantitative perspective the study's research approach adhered to the research methods and investigative techniques relating to program evaluation; this type of analysis focused upon the manner in which a program intervention leads to or impacted upon a set of program outcomes and measures relating to the most recent program performance year as it relates to the implementation of the WIA program in New Hampshire. Findings. Examination of quantitative data and related study findings suggests that the WIA Employment Counseling intervention, along with its service delivery model has had a positive impact upon the successful implementation of the WIA program within New Hampshire. Moreover, the study findings suggest those "hard-to-serve populations" (as defined in the study as the high technology workers) could be served by counselor interventions as well as through training in terms of bolstering their chances of reentering the workforce. Conclusions and recommendations. The study data support the conclusion that key WIA employment counseling services intervention can help (those hard-to-serve) program clients reenter the workforce if they engage such services sooner, rather than later. Recommendations center upon program implementation approaches which maximize the delivery of core program services by the WIA Employment Counselor.