Caseworkers conducted an initial assessment interview and skills test to determine their clients’ needs and assigned clients to various activities. Clients without a high school diploma or equivalent were typically assigned to basic education classes. Clients with a high school diploma or equivalent and little work experience were typically assigned to a Community Work Experience Program. Clients with both a high school diploma or equivalent and work experience were typically assigned to a job club for intensive job search. Caseworkers had substantial discretion in making assignments, however, and often placed a client in other activities or never gave a client any assignment. Clients assigned to an activity were required to participate for at least 20 hours per week; noncompliance could result in reductions in benefits. Typical lengths of placements were 8.5 months for basic education, 5.2 months for a Community Work Experience Program, 1.7 months for job clubs, 8.8 months for postsecondary education, 5.2 months for job skills training, and 4.1 months for job-readiness training. Participants were AFDC recipients not exempt from participation in welfare-to-work activities. The Ohio JOBS program was implemented statewide and evaluated in 15 counties.
Ohio’s version of JOBS, a national program model enacted through the Family Support Act of 1988 to support Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients in finding employment, used an assessment-based approach in which caseworkers had discretion in placing clients into activities.