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A total of 44,852 cases were assigned to intervention or comparison groups for the Time Limits and RER interventions from June 1996 through September 2000. This review focuses on 2,790 cases that were randomly assigned to the RER or comparison conditions in one of the four Choices sites (Clint). The other three sites (Beaumont, Odessa, and Corpus Christi) are reported separately on this site.
The program was studied from 1996 to 2002.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded the study.
The Texas Department of Human Services
In the RER Choices counties, which were part of the ACT demonstration, participants received a combination of time limit policies with two added provisions: more generous Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility requirements and adoption of a Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA). The changes to the TANF eligibility rules included the following: a disregard of children’s earnings and resources in the calculation of family benefits, increased resource limits for eligibility determination, and elimination of the work history requirement and 100-hour work rule for TANF-Unemployed Parent families. The PRA required that families comply with the following: Choices program participation requirements (which were not described in the study), child support and paternity establishment efforts, regularly scheduled Texas Health Steps screenings for children, immunization requirements, school attendance policies, and parenting skills training classes (if referred). Participants also received transitional benefits after reaching time limits.
Cases assigned to the comparison condition did not have to comply with the PRA or time limit provisions and instead followed the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children eligibility requirements.
Participants were subject to time limits. The PRA required that families comply with the following: Choices program participation requirements, child support and paternity establishment efforts, regularly scheduled Texas Health Steps screenings for children, immunization requirements, school attendance policies, and parenting skills training classes (if referred).
Typical Time Limit experiment participants could be assigned to one of three time limits (12, 24 or 36 months) based on their educational attainment and work history. After reaching the state time limit, they could receive 12 months of transitional Medicaid and child care benefits. The length of service could be between two and four years.
The Texas Department of Human Services
The RER Choices pilot reported here took place in Clint County.