Glossary

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits or the value of their benefits between 18 months and 5 years after participants are offered intervention services.

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits (such as TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and so on) or the value of their benefits during a period 18 months or fewer after the participant first received intervention services.

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits or the value of their benefits more than 5 years after participants are offered intervention services.

Interventions that, to date, have no available research findings regarding their effectiveness, but for which research studying their effectiveness is underway. The effectiveness rating applies to the entire intervention and not to specific outcome domains.

A physical or mental condition—including some chronic illnesses—that substantially limit one or more major life activities (i.e., activities that most people can perform with little to no difficulty such as seeing, hearing, and learning). 

Diversion payments are one-time or short-term cash benefit payments that families receive to meet immediate needs, often (but not always) prior to enrollment in TANF or other assistance. These payments are designed to divert families from long-term enrollment in TANF or other services by addressing a specific crisis or episode of need. Diversion payments may be an intervention's primary service.

Services designed to provide assistance to people who have experienced domestic violence. These services may include crisis intervention; counseling; advocacy with medical, police, and court systems; or prevention trainings. Some domestic violence services may include other supports such as housing, which should be tagged when appropriate. Domestic violence services may be an intervention's primary service.