Work Plus

To continue to receive benefits, TANF participants were required to engage in employment-related activities for 32 hours per week. Program staff encouraged TANF participants in the Work Plus intervention to decrease work hours per week to 20 hours to pursue education and training activities, with the philosophy that working reinforced the value of education and training and that working while in school or training increased the likelihood of program completion and the use of newly attained skills. Participation in education and training was voluntary, but if participants chose not to pursue education and training, they were required to participate in other permitted activities—including work—for at least 32 hours per week. Participants received intensive case management services, including access and referrals to mental health, domestic violence, and substance use treatment services. Participants were also automatically eligible for supportive services, including child care and transportation assistance, which would otherwise have required enrolling in a separate program. Services continued as long as participants remained employed. If participants became unemployed, they could continue Work Plus services for up to 60 days before being transferred to a separate, job-search services program. The program was available to TANF recipients who had worked at the state minimum wage or higher for at least 20 hours in one or more weeks in the prior month. Participants also had to have completed a preemployment program and expect to be working at least 20 hours per week on average for the next month. Work Plus was implemented in Riverside County, CA. The evaluation also tested a Training Focused intervention and compared the effects of the Work Plus and Training Focused interventions.