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Subgroups
In this randomized controlled trial, evaluators assigned 5,547 AFDC applicants and recipients into the JOBS program group or a comparison group between February 1993 and December 1994 when applicants and recipients attended a program orientation at the employment and training office. The study included two surveys of a random sample of individuals (administered about two and five years after random assignment) who were randomly assigned into the JOBS program group or a comparison group between March 1993 and February 1994. For long-term findings from administrative data, the comparison group is limited to 499 randomly selected comparison group members that faced a five-year embargo period on receipt of services (other comparison group members only had a three-year embargo period).
Random assignment took place between February 1993 and December 1994. The study reports impacts five years after random assignment.
The NEWWS evaluation was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation), and by the U.S. Department of Education.
The study only examined single parents. More than 93 percent of the sample was female, nearly 70 percent was White, and the average age was between 30 and 31 years old. Almost half of the participants were never married at the time the study began. The average number of children was two per family. About 40 percent had some earnings in the 12 months before the study began, and fewer than 10 percent were employed. Nearly 67 percent had a high school diploma or GED. Slightly more than one percent of participants received no AFDC benefits at the time of random assignment (they had just applied).
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies in Portland, OR
The National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies (NEWWS) aims to analyze the effectiveness of 11 mandatory welfare-to-work programs in seven sites across the United States.
Portland’s program focused on moving clients immediately into work. Case managers first assessed clients’ employability during a one-on-one meeting and then assigned them to services. They assigned clients who had a good chance of rapidly attaining a general education diploma (GED) certificate (according to the assessment) to GED preparation classes. Depending on their needs, other clients not ready for employment could receive secondary or postsecondary education, vocational training, or life skills training. Other clients were assigned either to begin searching for jobs immediately or to start with a job club (30 hours per week for two weeks), followed by up to six weeks of job searching during which clients had to contact 20 employers per week. Job developers who worked closely with employers helped identify employment opportunities. Staff in Portland stressed that clients should continue searching for a stable, high-paying job (rather than take the first job available). They used encouragement and the threat of sanctions to maintain client participation. The program provided funding for child care, transportation, and health care (through Medicaid).
People in the comparison group could not receive any program services and were not subject to participation requirements (and therefore the risk of nonparticipation sanctions) for program services or employment. These clients could, however, participate in employment-related activities available in their communities.
Individuals in the program were required to receive services in order to remain eligible for public assistance.
The average length of participation was about five months during a two-year follow-up period.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Family Support Act; state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds
The program took place in Portland, OR.
Health, Child care, Child well-being