What is Colorado Youth WINS?
- Colorado Youth WINS is a research study. The study is paid for by the Social Security Administration.
- The goal of Colorado Youth WINS is to help youth become as independent as possible. Youth who are between 14 and 25 years of age can be in the study.
- Colorado Youth WINS I-TEAMs help youth become independent in a number of ways. They can help youth understand their benefits, connect to services and supports, get or keep a job, and get job training.
What is an I-TEAM?
An I-TEAM is a group people who work with youth. An I-TEAM is at a Workforce Center. There are four Workforce Centers with an I-TEAM. An I-TEAM includes the following people.
- A Career Counselor who will help youth explore career choices and jobs. A Career Counselor helps youth get experience in a specific career or job.
- A Benefits Planner who will help youth figure out how earning money will change their benefits. A Benefits Planner will sign youth up for the special Social Security rules. Youth will only qualify for these special rules while they are in Colorado Youth WINS.
- A Navigator who will help youth connect with services and supports. These services and supports can help youth to be successful at work or school.
Who may join Colorado Youth WINS?
Only a limited number of youth get the chance to be in Colorado Youth WINS. A group called Mathematica Policy Research, or MPR, will call and invite youth who are qualified to be in the study.
Half the youth who agree to take be in the study will work with an I-TEAM. Special Social Security rules will apply to this group. These special rules will help the youth earn and save more money than they could under normal Social Security rules.
The other half of the youth who agree to be in the study will not have I-TEAM services. This group also will not have special Social Security rules. We will test to see which group is more independent at the end of the study.
Youth who are called choose if they want to be in this study. They can say no, and they will still get their current benefits or services. Personal information about youth in the study will be kept private.
