This glossary contains terms related to research methodology, welfare, and child well-being.
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A
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| Aid to Famlies with Dependent Children (AFDC): |
AFDC was a cash grant program providing public assistance for children in need and their mothers or other caregiver relatives in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Children were eligible if they had been deprived of parental support or care because their single mother or father was either continuously absent from home, incapacitated, unemployed, or deceased. Changes in 1988 mandated federal cash supplements to two-parent households in which one parent's unemployment created such a need. The entitlements to cash assistance for low-income families and individuals ended with the enactment of P.L. 104-193 on August 22, 1996. |
| Aim: |
The descriptive aims or hypotheses of each type of study. |
| Analytic Strategy: |
Brief description of baseline characteristics, moderating variables, and mediating variables used in analysis. |
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B
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C
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| Child Care Disregard: |
Federal law required states to disregard certain earned income that went towards child care expenses when determining a family's AFDC or food stamps benefit level. |
| Consultant: |
Individual or organization used provide guidance and/or advice concerning the project to the sponsor or evaluator. |
| Cost-Benefit Study: |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to estimate the cost of a program or intervention. Can include cost-effectiveness and efficiency analyses. Also see Study or Type of study. |
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D
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| Descriptive/Analytical Study: |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to report on variations in program content, concomitants, and possible consequences, across time, locations or persons. Can include hypothesis-generating, exploratory, explanatory, comparative, or trend analysis studies. Also see Study or Type of study. |
| Devolution: |
The surrender of powers by a central government to local authorities. |
| Domain: |
Broad subject area in which this study may be classified. Options include:
- Income Security/TANF
- Child/Family
- Community/Neighborhood
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E
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| Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): |
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit available to low-income workers. If the amount of the credit exceeds tax liability, the excess is payable directly to the taxpayer. |
| Emergency Assistance Program (EA): |
The Emergency Assistance Program, along with AFDC, comprised Title IV of the Social Security Act. EA provided 50% federal matching funds to states for emergency assistance for families with children facing destitution or homelessness for a 30 consecutive day period in any one given year. The EA program was eliminated with the pass of P.L. 104-193 in August, 1996. |
| Evaluator(s): |
Organization(s) or research group responsible for carrying out the study. Include acronym or abbreviated name, if any. |
| Execution notes: |
Notes on issues related to adequacy of data (e.g., determination of eligibility, completeness of interview data, success in matching administrative records, reliability and validity of measurements). (Unreviewed projects only) |
| Existing Publications: |
Major publications related to project, including dates available (if noted). |
| External Reviewer(s): |
Person in organization who reviewed database entry. |
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F
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| Family Cap: |
The "family cap" concept refers to some state welfare provisions that stipulate welfare funds may not be used to provide additional cash benefits for a child conceived while a family is receiving welfare benefits. |
| Findings Available: |
Lists the types of findings currently available.
- Interim Cost-benefit Findings
- Final Cost-benefit Findings
- Interim Descriptive/Analytical Findings
- Final Descriptive/Analytical Findings
- Interim Impact Findings
- Final Impact Findings
- Interim Implementation Findings
- Final Implementation Findings
- Not Yet Available
- Other
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| Findings: |
Description of major findings, including citation to source, type of study described by the finding (if noted), and type of finding (interim or final). |
| Food Stamps: |
This federally funded program is designed to provide low-income households with sufficient food purchasing power to sustain a nutritionally adequate diet. The cost of this minimal diet is based on the Department of Agriculture's computation of the "Thrifty Food Plan." The Food Stamp program is designed to provide food purchasing power equal to the difference between the cost of this food plan and 30% of the income of the household. P.L. 104-193 eliminates most food stamp benefits to legal aliens and set more strict income, age, employment, and training guidelines for recipients. |
| Forthcoming publications: |
Forthcoming publications related to project, including dates available (if noted). |
| Funder(s): |
Names of organizations, foundations, or agencies funding the research project. |
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G
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| General Assistance (GA): |
General Assistance refers to various state-funded cash assistance program that provide benefits to non-elderly impoverished adults without dependent children. A 1996 Urban Institute survey revealed that of the 41 states and the District of Columbia with GA programs, 32 states have programs that cover the whole state, while 12 states have GA programs in only a portion of the state. Only 12 of the states with GA programs provide financial benefits to all needy adults, and four of the state provide assistance to able-bodied adults. |
| Goal: |
Overall, broad goal of the research project. |
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H
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| Head Start: |
A federal program, begun in 1965, that provides educational, social, nutritional, and medical services to low-income pre-school children, ages 0-5. Children from low-income families fill 90% of the program slots, with 10% reserved for children with disabilities. The program is overseen by the Head Start Bureau in the US Department of Health and Social Services, but administered by individual Head Start agencies at the local level. Head Start emphasizes involving parents as volunteers and as paid Head Start staff members. |
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I
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| Impact Study (Controlled Experiment): |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to estimate whether or not interventions/programs produce their intended effects. Controlled experiment involves random assignment to intervention and control groups.
Types of Impact studies include:
* Controlled experiment
Impact study with random assignment to intervention and control groups.
* Quasi-experiment with non-equivalent groups
Impact study with non-random assignment to comparison group.
* Quasi-experiment with pre/post time series
Impact study with assessments made before and after an intervention or
participation in activities.
Also see Study or Type of study. |
| Impact Study (Quasi-experiment with non-equivalent control
groups): |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to estimate whether or not interventions/programs produce their intended effects. Includes non-random assignment to control group. |
| Impact Study (Quasi-experiment with pre-post time periods): |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to estimate whether or not interventions/programs produce their intended effects. Includes assessments made before and after an intervention or participation in activities. |
| Implementation/Process Study: |
Type of study within a research project. Designed to examine day-to-day operation of program, program coverage, delivery of services. Also see Study or Type of study. |
| Investigator(s): |
The primary person(s) involved in the research project. |
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J
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| JOBS (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program): |
This program, established under the Family Support Act (FSA) of 1988, and eliminated under the passage of P.L. 104-193, required states to educate, train, and employ welfare families. This program replaced the Work Incentive (WIN) program and consolidated other welfare-to-work provisions, such as the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). The FSA mandated that AFDC parents with children ages 3 and older participate in JOBS or approved employment and training activities. Parents with children under age 6 were required to participate for 20 hours per week. |
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K
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L
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| Large Scale Data Collection Project: |
National or multi-site data set available for public use. |
| Last Updated: |
Most recent date that research project was entered or updated in database. |
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M
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| Monitoring Project: |
Systematic analysis of changes in activities, behavior, or well-being over time. |
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N
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| Notes: |
General comments regarding research project. |
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O
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| Outcomes Assessed: |
The primary dependent variable, i.e., what the study seeks to explain.
Options include:
- Adult Outcomes
Emotional well-being
Health/physical well-being (including prenatal health)
Social functioning/social relationships
Planning for future
- Attitudes towards work, welfare, and program
- Benefit termination
Due to employer-provided health insurance
Due to employment
Due to marriage
Due to sanctions
Due to substance abuse
Due to time limit
- Caseload dynamics
Entry effects
Exit effects
Recidivism
- Child outcomes
Social/emotional/behavioral
Mental/physical health outcomes
Cognitive (attention’ problem solving; memory; language; and vocabulary)
Academic
Overall development
- Community outcomes
Community economic development (e.g. labor market outcomes)
Community interpersonal relationships ("neighborhood effects")
Community poverty rates
Community safety (e.g. crime rates and/or general perceptions of safety)
Distribution of community services (equity)
Reaction of low-poverty neighborhoods to entry of high-poverty voucher recipients
School quality (e.g. SAT scores)
- Compliance with federal requirements
Data reporting requirements
- Education
Adult literacy levels
High school graduation/GED receipt
School attendance
- Employment
Community services
Job attainment
Job creation
Job promotion
Job readiness/training
Job retention
Number of hours worked for wages
Work-based community jobs
Workfare
- Family and relationship outcomes
Adoption
Births/pregnancies
Family formation and stability/Living arrangements
Fatherhood
Foster care
Kinship care
Parent-child interactions
Parenting attitudes
Parenting skills
Violence in family or other relationships (e.g. child abuse and neglect)
- Financial costs and benefits/cost-effectiveness
- Health/ physical well-being
- Housing
Homelessness
Home ownership
Residential mobility
- Income security
Child support payments
Earnings
Overall income
Food stamps receipt
Medicaid receipt
Unemployment Insurance (UI) receipt
Welfare receipt
Welfare application rates
- Policy changes
- Program Implementation
Capacity of management systems to meet priorities
City-State relations
Volunteer sector actions
- Sanctions
- Service utilization
- Standard of living
- Substance abuse
Legal problems related to substance use
Patterns and severity of substance use
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P
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| P.L. 104-19 (The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996): |
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 became law on August 22, 1996. It replaces the AFDC, EA and JOBS programs with the TANF block grant. P.L. 104-193 also denies SSI and food stamps to legal immigrants, changes the eligibility requirements for SSI, increases state and federal monitoring requirements for children support enforcement (CSE), and provides cash incentives to states to help decrease the number of out-of-wedlock births. |
| Primary Evaluator: |
Primary organization(s) hired to carry out some aspects of the study. Include acronym or abbreviated name, if any. |
| Program Component Notes: |
Specific information about program components evaluated, such as number of months for time limits and dollar amounts for financial incentives/disincentives. |
| Program Components, Policies and Activities evaluated: |
Specific program, policy or activities evaluated.
Options include:
- Administration/implementation
Changes in welfare office environment/culture
Development of new welfare policies
Development of partnerships with city, state, and local governments
Development of partnerships with private organizations
Program enforcement of sanctions
Simplification of program rules and procedures
- Child Support
Increased efficiency in collection
Services to non-custodial parents
Support paid directly to parent
- Diversionary Activities
- Educational Activities
Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses
Early childhood education (e.g. Head Start)
English as a Second Language (ESL)
GED courses
High school completion
Literacy education
Parenting groups/classes
Post-secondary education
School readiness activities
- Eligibility
- Employment Activities
Career transition centers
Employment policies linked to treatment
Job development
Job placement
Job readiness activities
Job search
Job skills training
Micro-business development
On the job training
Micro-business Development
Work supplementation programs
- Family Caps
- Financial Disincentives/Sanctions
Denial of benefits to persons convicted of felonies
Lower basic benefit level
Multi-program sanctions
Reduced benefits for non-compliance
Reduction/termination of benefits for substance abuse
Strengthened JOBS sanctions
- Financial Incentives
Cash bonus for program completion
Coverage for work-related expenses
Deductions for business investments leading to
self-employment
Direct payment to recipient (not landlord)
Earnings disregards
Earnings supplements/work subsidies
Elimination of 100 hour rule
Excluding the value of one vehicle
Higher base grant
Increase in income benefits for program enrollment
Increase in income benefits for program participation
Increased asset limit
Individual Development Account (IDA)
Lower benefit reduction rate
Shelter allowance
Tax reduction/rebate (e.g. Earned Income Tax Credit)
Transitional income benefits
Utility allowance
- Food Stamps
Cash out
Simplified program
Work requirements
- Foster Care Services
- Housing
Section 8 voucher program
Other housing assistance program (e.g. no-interest loans)
- Post-Program Activities
- Program Requirements
Broadened JOBS participation requirement
Child support order
Community or alternative work
Drug testing
Enrollment in substance abuse program
Immunizations for children
Living arrangements for unwed pregnant or parenting
minors
Mandatory JOBS for younger teens
Parenting or social contract
Paternity identification
School attendance
Work requirement
Workshop attendance
- Social/Support Services
Access to computer lab
Access to family service workers
Budgeting assistance
Case management
Child care
Child development centers
Child protection agencies
Coaching in community centers
Community/social services
Community service exchange program
Counseling
Emergency financial/material assistance
Employment support for job retention
Enhanced social and health services
Expanded hours in community centers
Family planning education and services
Health benefits
Home visits
Life Skills and Opportunities Classes (LSO)
Multiple services in single location
Peer support sessions
Parenting classes/training
Referrals to other service organizations
Substance abuse/dependence treatment
Treatment for problems such as domestic violence or mental health
Transitional child care
Transitional health benefits
Transportation
- Time Limits
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| Program Evaluated: |
Title of the program evaluated, if any. |
| Program/Policy Description: |
Brief description of program or policy evaluated, if any. |
| Project Contact(s): |
Person in organization who will provide additional information about the project. |
| Project Duration: |
Dates when research project was begun and completed. |
| Project name: |
The name of the overall study. Include acronym or short name by which the study is commonly known. |
| Publication Department: |
Information about the evaluating organization's publications department. |
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Q
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R
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| Recommendations: |
Major recommendations suggested by evaluators, including citation to source. |
| Research Resource Project: |
Projects entered by Research Forum Staff that do not meet the criteria for Reviewed Research Projects but fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Large Scale Data Collection: National or multi-site data set available for public use.
- Monitoring: Systematic analysis of changes in activities, behavior, or well-being over time.
- Tracking: Systematic analysis of policies or programs over time or across sites.
- Synthesis: Multi-project analysis.
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| Response Rate/Attrition Notes: |
Attrition rate reported by the principle investigator(s), if available, and any available information about the numerator and denominator used to calculate this rate.
Response rate reported by principle investigator(s), if available. Includes the number and characteristics of units/persons in the denominator (i.e., those deemed eligible for inclusion) and the numerator (I.e., those from whom data were obtained), if available. |
| Reviewed Research Project: |
Projects selected according to specific criteria defined by Research Forum staff. Reviewed Project Summaries are prepared by Research Forum staff using a standarized protocol and, except where noted otherwise, approved by an appropriate project contact person. |
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S
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| Sample characteristics: |
Include the following information in regards to a particular data source
- Sample size, Populations studied and Population characteristics (or Number of records, for administrative data)
*Sample size:
Number of persons/institutions/records fielded - give total N, Ns for subgroups, if any.
*Unit of observation:
Group to which generalizations are to be made.
*Records
*Population Characteristics:
Descriptive information about populations studied, if different than "total population studied".
- Type of sample and sample sizes and populations for program and control groups (if applicable)
*Type of sample:
Sampling method or type. - Data collection schedule
Information about time frame for obtaining information using data source.
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| Sample Size and Unit: |
Information about the primary population studied in the project. Includes sampling method (how individuals were selected), total number in sample, and population characteristics.
If project includes an impact study, the total number of individuals in the program/experimental and comparison/control groups. Include sampling method (how individuals were selected). |
| Sites Studied: |
Areas in which project is carried out. Specify city, county, and state. For counties, largest city may be added in parentheses. |
| Sites: |
Site(s) of data collection for particular data source. |
| Source: |
The means of gathering information, such as:
- Survey
- Interview
- Focus group
- Case study
- Field Research
- Developmental assessments/screenings (e.g. Bailey)
- Observation of child interactions
- Administrative Data (Aggregate level data of transactions)
- Program descriptions and documents
- Secondary data
- Other
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| Sources of Database Information: |
Sources of information for database entry may include published and unpublished materials. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Organization responsible for overseeing the research project and with whom the evaluator has a contractual relationship. Include acronym or abbreviated name, if any, for organization. |
| Status: |
Current status of project. Can include:
- Completed
- Operational
- Operational with Findings
- In Development
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| Subcontractor: |
Organization(s), if any, contracted by evaluator to conduct components of the research project. |
| Subgroups Studied: |
Provides a list of the subgroups studied. Options include:
- Applicants
- Caseworkers/Managers
- Child Care Providers
- Child-only Cases
- Children 1-6
- Children 7-18
- Children younger than 1 (infants)
- Children in foster care
- Domestic Violence Victims
- Employers
- Fathers
- Former recipients ("leavers")
- Federal government
- General population
- Immigrants
- Local government
- Low-income households
- Low-wage workers
- Minority populations
- Native Americans
- Neighborhood-based community organizations
- Neighborhood key informants
- Neighborhoods
- Non-custodial parents
- Persons diverted from welfare
- Persons with mental/physical health problems
- Persons with substance abuse problems
- Pregnant/parenting teens
- Recipients/participants/clients
- Rural populations
- Single parent families
- Social/Community service agencies
- Teachers
- Two-parent families
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| Submitted by: |
Indicates the name of the person or group who submitted the project to the Forum database (unreviewed projects only) |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI): |
The Supplemental Security Income program was originally authorized by Title XVI of the Social Security Act and is a means-tested, federally administered income assistance program for children and adults with disabilities. P.L. 104-193 redefines eligibility for SSI for children with disabilities to eliminate maladaptive behavior as a qualifying medical impairment. |
| Synthesis Project: |
Multi-project analysis. |
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T
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| TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families): |
The TANF block grant eliminates the federal entitlement to welfare benefits for needy families, and gives most states a grant of funds, based on their welfare spending in fiscal year 1994, to administer their own welfare programs. |
| Target Population: |
Provides a list of the target populations studied. Options include:
- Adolescents
- Applicants
- Caseworkers/Managers
- Child Care Providers
- Child-only Cases
- Children
- Children younger than 1 (infants)
- Domestic Violence Victims
- Employers
- Fathers
- Federal government
- Former recipients
- General population
- Immigrants
- Local government
- Low-income households
- Low-wage households
- Minority populations
- Native Americans
- Neighborhood-based organizations
- Neighborhood key informants
- Neighborhoods
- Non-custodial parents
- Persons diverted from welfare
- Persons with mental/physical health problems
- Persons with substance abuse problems
- Pregnant/parenting teens
- Recipients/participants/clients
- Rural populations
- Single parent families
- Social/Community service agencies
- Teachers
- Two-parent families
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| Title: |
Descriptive information about a particular data source. E.g. "Three year survey" or "GED records". |
| Tracking Project: |
Systematic analysis of policies or programs over time or across sites. |
| Transitional Child Care: |
The Transitional Child Care Assistance Program was a federal, AFDC-linked child care subsidy program. It was eliminated with the passage of P.L. 104-193 in August 1996. It required states to guarantee up to 12 months of child care to a family who lost AFDC eligibility due to reasons related to employment. |
| Type of Research Project: |
General research objective of project. Options include research/program evaluation or policy analysis. |
| Type of Summary: |
Indicates whether a project is "reviewed" or "unreviewed". Reviewed projects are selected according to specific criteria defined by Research Forum staff. Reviewed Project Summaries are prepared by Research Forum staff using a standarized protocol and, except where noted otherwise, approved by an appropriate project contact person. Unreviewed projects are those that either were entered by web site users using the Add A Project Form or did not meet the Research Forum's criteria for Reviewed Projects. A subset of these projects will be considered for detailed review if they are large-scale or multi-site and conducted by organizations with experience relevant to the income sercurity/TANF domain. |
| Type: |
Type of study conducted within the research project. Can include:
- Cost/Benefit Study:
Designed to estimate the cost of a program or intervention. Can include cost-effectiveness and efficiency analyses.
- Impact Study:
Designed to estimate whether or not interventions/programs produce their intended effects.
Types of Impact Studies include:
* Controlled experiment:
Impact study with random assignment
to intervention and control groups.
* Quasi-experiment with non-equivalent groups:
Impact study with non-random assignment
to comparison group.
* Quasi-experiment with pre/post time series:
Impact study with assessments made before
and after an intervention or
participation in activities.
- Implementation/Process Study:
Designed to examine day-to-day operation of program, program coverage, delivery of services.
- Descriptive/Analytical Study:
Designed to report on variations in program content, concomitants, and possible consequences, across time, locations or persons. Can include hypothesis-generating, exploratory, explanatory, comparative, or trend analysis studies.
- Longitudinal/Prospective Study:
Designed to follow populations across periods of time.
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U
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| Unreviewed Research Project: |
Projects that either were entered by web site users using the Add A Project Form or did not meet the Research Forum's criteria for Reviewed Projects. A subset of these projects will be considered for detailed review if they are large-scale or multi-site and conducted by organizations with experience relevant to the income sercurity/TANF domain. |
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V
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| Variation in program components across sites: |
Indicates if there is variation in the program components across research sites within a single project. |
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W
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X
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Y
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Z
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