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August 30, 2007
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ROI study proves Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection is good investment
Program that helps urban youth graduate “more than pays for itself” through increased earnings for participants and decreased government expenditures
Rochester, NY–August 30, 2007 – According to a study by Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency released today, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, which offers support to middle and high school students to help them achieve graduation, provides a return on investment to the Rochester community of over $2.2 million for a cohort of 100 students to age 30 through increased earnings for the individuals and decreased governmental expenditures.
The study, commissioned by HW-SC’s parent organization Hillside Family of Agencies, states that compared to their peers in the Rochester City School District, a cohort of 100 Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) participants by age 30 will earn $1.69 million more in income. This represents a 16.7 percent increase over those not in the program.
Additionally, the study shows that the net government outlays (Medicaid, TANF/public assistance, food stamp, and incarceration costs) for the same cohort of 100 HW-SC students, from the time they left school to age 30, are an estimated $1.8 million lower than for a comparable non-program group.
“The numbers provide strong evidence of the value of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to this community and why supporting expansion of this program is a fiscally sound economic decision,” says Dennis Richardson, president and CEO of Hillside Family of Agencies.
By 2010, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection plans to double the number of students it helps in the Rochester City School District from 1,200 to 2,400. As a result of these plans, Richardson points out that there will be an expected return to the community of more than $54 million.
"Monroe County is proud to support the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, a true model of collaboration and an important part of our efforts to strengthen our community and grow our local economy," says Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. "The program continues to make a difference in the lives of our young people, providing them with the guidance and support they need to be successful at home, at school, and at work."
Monroe County provides matching dollars to help fund the services HW-SC offers.
"In a tight budget year, Mayor Duffy reordered priorities to allocate, in partnership with the Rochester City School District, $1 million to this valuable program," said Deputy Mayor Patricia Malgieri. "This study is very encouraging and underscores that Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection is a proven, effective program that improves graduation rates and changes young lives."
“Supporters of the program view it as a preventative initiative, representing an investment in the lives of individual young people and therefore, the community. Through the study, we have been able to provide Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection supporters with the potential monetary return on their investment through a detailed cost-benefit analysis,” says Fran Weisberg, executive director of Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency.
According to Weisberg, the study reviewed published literature on the cost of high school non-completion and the cost-benefit of additional years of secondary education. Additionally, graduation and attrition rates presented in a 2004 HW-SC evaluation by the Center for Governmental Research were examined.
“This study clearly validates that Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection continues to be a proven model to increase high school graduation rates,” says Annette Gantt, executive director of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.
A full copy of the study is available at http://www.hillside.com
About Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, founded in 1987 by Robert and Danny Wegman,
is an affiliate of Hillside Family of Agencies. Hillside is a family and
children services organization that provides child welfare, mental health, youth
development, juvenile justice, special education, and developmental disabilities
services across Central and Western New York.
Hillside Family of Agencies is comprised of affiliates Crestwood Children’s Center, Crestwood Children’s Foundation, Hillside Children’s Center, Hillside Children’s Foundation, and Snell Farm Children’s Center.
About Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency
The Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA)
is a community health planning agency that promotes the health of the Finger
Lakes population by: conducting population-based health status, utilization and
health system capacity analysis; engaging the healthcare community, policymakers
and consumers to address identified issues affecting the health of the Finger
Lakes population; and advocating for accessible, affordable, high quality
healthcare for the entire population of the region. From its origins in the
1950s, health planning has been an integral part of the Rochester region's
health care system and has been supported by community leaders, health care
providers, consumers, insurers, and county governments.
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