Principal Investigator: Matthew J. Smith, PhD

Our mission at the Level Up: Employment Skills Simulation Lab is to help bridge the equity gap in employment opportunities for underserved groups.

We are pursuing this mission within the context of the Grand Challenges of Social Work by seeking to Harness Technology for Social Good, Ensure Healthy Development for All Youth, Promote Social Isolation, and Eradicate Social Isolation. 

Harness Technology for Social Good

-We aim to enhance equity in employment to underserved groups by developing, evaluating, and supporting the implementation of internet-based simulations that focus on Leveling Up one’s skills to get and keep their jobs.

Ensure Healthy Development for All Youth

-Youth ages 16 to 26 with educational disabilities have critically low employment rates compared to their peers without disabilities. We aim to help enhance federally-mandated transition services supporting youth with educational disabilities in high school or post-secondary educational settings. Our research will develop and evaluate whether simulation trainings can effectively enhance skills and real world outcomes in youth with disabilities. If the simulations are effective, we seek to support the sustainability of  implementing these tools in transition services.

Promote Smart Decarceration

-Individuals returning to their communities after completing their prison sentences are known as returning citizens. Moreover, returning citizens  have critically low employment rates that are associated with higher rates of recidivism. We aim to help enhance the implementation of evidence-based practice within the justice system to promote Smart Decarceration. 

Eradicate Social Isolation

-Unemployment, especially among individuals with disabilities, can lead to extensive social isolation. We aim to reduce this isolation by developing and evaluating technology-based interventions that could help them obtain and sustain employment.