Study of Work Participation and Full Engagement Strategies (Printer-Friendly Format)

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Study of Work Participation and Full Engagement Strategies

General Information

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Evaluator(s)	Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Investigator(s)	LaDonna Pavetti (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)

Domain	Income Security/TANF
Status	Completed (final report released)
Type	Research and/or Program Evaluation
Program/Policy Description	With the passage of PRWORA, states were required to engage a certain minimum percentage of their TANF caseload in specified work and work-related activities for a specified number of hours per week. This study was commissioned to learn about the strategies state and local programs use to engage all or most TANF recipients in work activities. It provides an examination of seven state and local programs that attempt to engage all or nearly all TANF recipients (excluding recipients in child-only cases) in work and work-related activities. The study had three broad objectives: to identify state and local programs that intend to engage all or nearly all TANF recipients (excluding those in child-only cases) in work or work-related activities to examine how these programs operate and to identify ways in which other programs might engage a larger share of their caseload in work or work-related activities. More specifically, the study sought to answer the following research questions: Which state and local programs currently strive to engage all or nearly all TANF recipients in work or work-related activities? What program services and administrative procedures do state and local programs use to engage all or nearly all TANF recipients in work or work-related activities? To what extent are programs that attempt to engage all or nearly all TANF recipients succeeding, and how do levels of engagement in these programs compare to program participation rates as defined by the federal TANF legislation? The sites included in the study represent three types of programs, distinguished by (1) whether some or all recipients are required to participate in activities and by (2) the activities in which recipients are required to participate. The first type of program requires all TANF recipients to participate in work or work-related activities. The second type of program requires only some recipients to participate (by providing exemptions for circumstances such as disabilities or the need to care for very young children) but strives to engage all nonexempt recipients in work or work-related activities. The third type of program requires all recipients to participate in activities but not necessarily in work or work-related activities.
Notes	No notes reported.

Last Updated	10/28/04
Type of Summary	Unreviewed
Contact(s)	LaDonna Pavetti (lpavetti@mathematica-mpr.com) Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. 2100 M Street NW (T) (202) 484-9220 (F) (202) 863-1763
Submitter(s)	Research Forum Staff (info@researchforum.org) National Center for Children In Poverty 215 West 125th St, 3rd Fl (T) (646)284-9600 (F) not reported

Populations Studied

Target Population	Recipients/participants/clients Local government
Subgroups Analyzed	None
Sample Size and Unit	n=1,204 adult recipients who were on TANF in August 2003 where the data reflects their participation from August 2003 through December 2003. n=6,187 adult recipients who were on TANF in may 2003 where the data reflects their participation from May 2003 through October 2003. August 2003 and May 2003 reflect typical months in El Paso county, Colorado and Utah.
Execution	Sources of data for the study consist of a comprehensive case studies of all seven sites and administrative data from management information systems in two sites -- El Paso County, Colorado, and Utah.

Sites Studied

Riverside county, California;
El Paso county, Colorado;
Oswego county, New York;
Franklin and Montgomery counties, Ohio;
Utah;
Wisconsin.

Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated

Program requirements

Administration/Implementation

Variation in program components across sites?

Yes

Outcomes Assessed

Program implementation

Employment

Caseload Dynamics

Types of Studies

Type	Implementation/Process Study

Type	Descriptive/Analytical Study

Data Sources

Source	Administrative data

Source	Interview

Source	Field Research

Source	Program descriptions and documents

Findings Available

Final Implementation Findings

Recommendations

Existing Publications

09/01/04

Study of Work Participation and Full Engagement Strategies: Final Report

Mathematica