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The New Hampshire TANF program stresses a “work-first” concept of assistance, where employment is seen as preferential to welfare and as providing a means for individuals and families to raise their income level and escape poverty. In New Hampshire the TANF program is two distinctive programs: the NH Employment Program (NHEP) and the Family Assistance Program (FAP). The NHEP consists of all clients able to work, and represents the majority of clients. The FAP consists of cases in which no able-bodied adult is receiving assistance. In some child-only cases, a parent is present in the household but is not a TANF recipient because the parent is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, State Supplement, SSA or VA disability benefits, is an ineligible noncitizen, or is sanctioned. These cases are commonly referred to as child-only cases. There are also non-parental child-only cases in which the child is living with a caretaker relative.
This study examines the implementation of the New Hampshire TANF program as it has changed the nature and culture of assistance benefits specific to clients, staff and the state's employers. Findings from this evaluation have begun to answer a number of research questions about the NHEP program development; caseload and client characteristics; trends in program participation; implementation and staff and client cultural change; client experiences with employment and earnings; clients’ obstacles and barriers to employment; and “best practices.”
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