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Subgroups
Individuals were eligible for the study if they were single-parent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, resided in specific parts of Los Angeles County (including areas in the western part of Los Angeles County, south-central Los Angeles, east Los Angeles, and the neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles International Airport), and were working 32 or more hours per week. From the end of July 2002 to June 2004, evaluators identified and randomly assigned 5,412 individuals, half to the Reach For Success group and half to the post-employment services (PES) group. The evaluation included surveys 12 and 42 months after random assignment. Evaluators used a two-stage process to identify individuals to survey. First, they restricted the group to sample members who were randomly assigned from July to December 2003 (12-month survey only), spoke English or Spanish, and were age 18 or older at the time of random assignment. Then, evaluators randomly selected a subset of the survey-eligible group and contacted these people.
Random assignment was conducted from the end of July 2002 through June 2004. Evaluators followed people in the study for 42 months 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.
All participants were employed, single-parent TANF recipients. About half of the participants were Black, 40 percent were Hispanic, and 94 percent were female. The average age was 31, and the average number of children was two. About one-third of the sample had received Aid to Families with Dependent Children or TANF for three or more years as of study entry, and half of the sample did not have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Most spoke English, although 13 percent spoke Spanish as their primary language.
Los Angeles County TANF offices
The program was a pilot that operated from March 2002 to June 2005.
The Reach for Success program sought to help participants retain employment and secure better jobs through customized services, flexibility, and individualized attention. Specifically, retention services focused on helping clients access work supports (for example, child care and transportation) and more effectively negotiate work-related issues through the development of soft skills (that is, interpersonal and communication skills). Career advancement services were more tailored to clients' needs and their levels of motivation. In addition, case managers worked with smaller caseloads and provided coaching and assistance to individuals to advance in their careers through education, training, and work-based approaches.
The comparison group received the existing PES program. Individuals received less individualized and more rule-bound PES. Clients received very few job retention services other than standard work supports. Career advancement services consisted primarily of support for education and training and were available only upon clients' requests.
None.
Participants could receive services for up to one year if they remained on TANF.
Los Angeles County; California TANF
Evaluators conducted the study in three regions of the Los Angeles County Greater Avenues for Independence program: Region 1 (western Los Angeles County and neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles International Airport), Region 5 (including south-central Los Angeles), and Region 6 (including east Los Angeles).
Mental health, Substance abuse