LA’s HOPE participants received temporary housing and help securing rental assistance and more permanent housing. Mental health services were also available. Once housed, LA’s HOPE case managers connected participants to a workforce development center; the case manager, workforce development staff, and mental health agency staff helped the participant prepare for employment.

New Hope participants who worked at least 30 hours per week could receive low-cost health insurance (if not provided through their employer) and child care subsidies (if they had a child younger than 13).

Master’s-level care managers placed telephone calls to Working toward Wellness participants to encourage them to seek treatment for their depression. The care managers also helped coordinate health appointments, encouraged and monitored follow-through on appointments and treatment plans, and provided supplemental information and counseling. To build rapport and identify potential referral services, care managers also asked participants about their employment status and goals and about barriers to employment, such as child care.

FTP was one of the demonstration projects made possible by Section 1115 waivers to the rules in effect at the time for the AFDC program. These Section 1115 waivers allowed states to test new approaches to advance the objectives of the AFDC program.