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The study focused on individuals who were unemployed, receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and participating in California's mandatory welfare-to-work program for this evaluation. Selected individuals were randomly assigned in June 2004 through September 2004 to either the Enhanced Job Club (EJC) or Traditional Job Club (TJC) groups. This study includes 207 research sample members who were in two-parent families. (Another study examines effects for single-parent families.) Only one member of each family is included in the sample. If both parents were eligible for the program, program staff selected one to participate in the study before random assignment, but both could be eligible to receive services.
Random assignment occurred in June 2004 through September 2004, and follow-up lasted three years.
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.
The Los Angeles site study sample included 207 unemployed TANF recipients in two-parent families. Across all members of two-parent families enrolled in Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA), half were White and non-Hispanic, 32 percent were Hispanic, and 12 percent were Black and non-Hispanic. On average, participants were 31 years old. More than half (62 percent) had at least a high school diploma or equivalent certification, and more than half (59 percent) were employed during the quarter when they enrolled in ERA. In the year before enrolling in ERA, most participants (76 percent) received the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and slightly less than half (42 percent) received TANF.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (state TANF agency) and Los Angeles County Office of Education
Development of the EJC model began in 2000. The model was first implemented in 2002.
The EJC model aimed to increase unemployed TANF clients' employment retention and advancement in fields aligned with their occupational interests. EJC included classroom activities and targeted job search activities, and clients had access to a job developer and a job coach. EJC was provided over the course of five weeks. During the first week, individuals participated in a career planning and job search preparation workshop. During the second week, participants refined plans and discussed their job search. During the third and fourth weeks, individuals who remained unemployed expanded the scope of their job search. During the fifth week, individuals who remained unemployed received individualized job search assistance.
Individuals in the comparison group received job club services through a TJC model. The TJC model aimed to place unemployed TANF clients rapidly in any job, including jobs not necessarily aligned with clients’ occupational interests. TJC operated over a three-week period and included mostly job search activities.
Participants were mandated to participate in the assigned job club and could face sanctions for failing to do so. (The fifth week of the EJC condition was voluntary.)
EJC services lasted for five weeks.
California TANF
The study took place in two regions (San Gabriel Valley and central Los Angeles) of Los Angeles County.
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