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Unemployed female TANF recipients between 18 and 60 years of age with at least one chronic health condition were invited to participate in the study. Pregnant women and those receiving disability income were excluded from the study. After participants had enrolled in the study, they were randomly assigned to either the Public Health Nursing group or the comparison group.
Recruitment began in February 2007, and the follow-up period for all participants ended by April 2010.
Not specified
All clients in the study were women. The average sample member was about 30 years old and had 2 to 3 children. The vast majority of clients, 88 percent, were unmarried. More than half (56 percent) were African American, and nearly one-third (32 percent) had not earned a high school diploma or general education diploma. Only 20 percent had not held any jobs in the past year, and only 14 percent had received TANF four or more times. Most respondents had held one or two jobs (62 percent) and had received TANF once or twice.
Florida state TANF
The authors developed the program in collaboration with female WTP participants. The study was not a pilot.
The Public Health Nursing program aimed to address the chronic health needs of TANF clients so those clients’ health concerns would not be a barrier to employment. People in the treatment group met with a Public Health Nurse for a comprehensive health assessment after entering the program. The nurse was a case manager who supported and coordinated access to care and helped clients manage and prevent diseases through primary care or referrals and health education. People in the treatment group could also attend a two-hour information session about Medicaid. People in the treatment group followed up with the nurse three, six, and nine months later to check in about their health and case management needs.
People in the comparison group participated in a typical Welfare Transition Program (WTP) that provided information on health agencies and resources but did not directly refer participants to services or coordinate those services.
None.
The typical participant received case management and health care coordination services for nine months.
Not known
The program took place in two counties, one urban and one rural, in north-central Florida.
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