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From March 2001 through December 2002, 2,032 single-parent participants in Houston, TX, were randomly assigned to the ERA program or Choices program (comparison group) after Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility had been confirmed but before they received cash assistance. Participants assigned to the ERA program attended a TANF orientation. They then received cash assistance and began to participate in ERA activities. Participation in both the ERA and Choices conditions was mandatory for the majority of those randomly assigned. Participants from two-parent families were also randomly assigned, but, with too few two-parent families to report separately on their outcomes, the study excluded them from the analysis.
Random assignment began in March 2001 and continued through December 2002. Evaluators followed participants for four years after random assignment.
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in ACF at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded the study, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Study participants were single parents who had applied for TANF. (Some, though not all, were approved.) Based on the sample randomly assigned from March 2001 through June 2002, at baseline, almost all individuals were not employed (93 percent) and were female (98 percent), with an average age between 28 and 29 years old. Most (62 percent) were Black; nine percent were White, and 28 percent were Hispanic. Fifty-five percent did not have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Thirty-nine percent had not received TANF before the study.
A nonprofit organization provided services.
The Texas Department of Human Services and Texas Workforce Commission developed the program in 1999 for use in the ERA study.
TANF recipients assigned to the Texas ERA program attended an initial orientation and then a four-day job search workshop. They then spent four to six weeks searching for jobs. The program assigned those who were not able to secure employment to community service or volunteer positions. People who found jobs were eligible for a $200 monthly stipend for up to 12 months if they were employed for at least 30 hours per week, participated in a post-employment advancement activity, or left TANF; they could also be eligible for the stipend if they worked 15 hours per week and participated in an education and training activity. The first four months of earnings for people in the program were disregarded when calculating their eligibility for TANF. Texas ERA staff also helped clients address job-related problems and provided reemployment assistance and support in meeting stipend requirements. Program staff made regular employer site visits. Participants were eligible for these services as long as they were eligible for the monthly stipend. Program staff coordinated case management services (including employment assessment, goal setting and career planning, support services, barrier resolution, and job search assistance) across several partner agencies.
TANF recipients assigned to Texas's standard welfare-to-work program (called Choices) received job search assistance, case management services, and support services after attending an orientation session. They spent four to six weeks searching for jobs, after which those who did not find employment were assigned to community service or volunteer positions. Clients could have four months of earnings disregarded when calculating their TANF benefit amount and could receive post-employment services during those four months. Case management services included employment assessments, goal setting and career planning, support services, barrier resolution, and job search assistance, but the services were not as intensive or coordinated across agencies as they were in the Texas ERA program.
Participation in ERA was mandatory for all individuals, except those who had a child younger than 1, were ill or disabled, or were caring for a disabled family member.
Preemployment services lasted up to 7 weeks, and financial incentives for job retention lasted up to 12 months.
Texas TANF agency (primary); ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The study took place in Houston, TX.
Physical health, Family formation, Child well-being