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Clients who had participated in a Phase 1 (pre-employment) Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) program, who had reported obtaining a job, and who met a series of eligibility requirements, were eligible for random assignment into Phase 2 (post-employment). These eligibility criteria included the following: working 20 or more hours for at least one week during the past 30 days, earning an hourly wage greater than or equal to the state minimum ($6.75), and expecting to work an average of 20 or more hours per week for at least 30 days. The evaluation excluded clients who, at the time of random assignment, were (1) already enrolled in Phase 2, (2) New Visions (another evaluation) sample members, or (3) Post-Assistance Self-Sufficiency members. Among the people eligible for random assignment, 72 percent were placed in a non-research group; 7 percent were placed in each of the Training Focused and comparison (Work Focused) groups; and 14 percent were placed in the Work Plus group. Sample members were enrolled from January 2001 to October 2003. This review focuses on the contrast between Work Plus and Work Focused group members for two-parent families. Only one parent in each two-parent family is included in the sample, though both could have received program services. Other reviews on this site examine the contrast of Training Focused and Work Focused and of Work Plus and Training Focused and all contrasts for single-parent families.
Random assignment began in January 2001 and concluded in October 2003. Outcome data were collected 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.
Clients were recipients of TANF benefits who worked 20 or more hours a week but earned too little to leave public assistance. All clients were members of two-parent families. Across study groups and ERA sites including two-parent families, the sample included 1,283 men and 1,536 women. The average age was 31 years, and 38 percent lacked a high school diploma or equivalent. About half (50 percent) were White, 12 percent were Black, and 32 percent were Hispanic.
Work Plus was implemented by the Riverside County DPSS (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF] agency) in California.
In 1998, the Riverside County DPSS created a post-employment program, which focused on encouraging clients to attend training or education courses outside of work. In subsequent years, DPSS staff worked with education and training providers to create variations of this post-employment program (one of which is Work Plus). The Work Plus program started in January 1998.
Work Plus clients could receive intensive case management and enhanced support services aimed at encouraging employment stability. To continue to receive benefits, participants were required to engage in employment-related activities for 32 hours per week. Program staff encouraged Work Plus participants 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. The program also provided clients with support services (for example, child care, transportation, and ancillary payments to participate in program activities), social services (for example, mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse), referrals to public assistance programs (for example, TANF, Food Stamps, and Medi-Cal), and job search services.
The comparison condition was known as Work Focused. Clients in this condition were eligible to receive TANF, Food Stamps, child care and transportation assistance (only if the client self-enrolled in an eligible program), and Medi-Cal. They also received limited and reactive case management.
Participants had to meet requirements for hours of work or other authorized activities per week; otherwise, they could be sanctioned.
Work Plus staff worked with unemployed clients for up to 60 days after the date of job loss and then referred them back to Phase 1 job search services.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Labor.
The study took place in Riverside County, CA.
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