Through this program, people who were incarcerated were released early, transferred to a residential facility, and required to find employment. If participants had difficulty finding work, the program referred them to community resources that helped develop job-search skills. The average participant took part in work release for slightly more than four months. This program served people who were incarcerated and who were assessed for low recidivism risk, had served at least half of their prison sentence, and were within eight months of their release date.

I-BEST offered occupational training courses in a variety of areas, including allied health, welding, and clerical fields. I-BEST integrated basic skills and occupational training through the use of a team teaching model whereby a basic skills and occupational instructor team taught (for at least 50 percent of class time) an occupational training course.

Pathways began with orientation activities, which included assessments of occupational skills and career interests. Participants then worked three days per week and spent the other weekdays participating in nonwork activities provided by Pathways, such as job-readiness training, career-development workshops, and case management. Participants first worked in transitional jobs with street-cleaning crews or in the kitchen of the implementing organization, the Doe Fund. Next, they worked at a subsidized internship with a partner employer.

The Grand Rapids HCD program stressed that participants should spend time receiving education or training to prepare for good jobs. The program began with a 15-hour, week-long formal assessment component, during which public school staff assessed participants’ achievement, aptitude, and career interests. Participants then usually completed either high school completion programs (distinct from GED classes) or vocational training.

The Grand Rapids LFA program encouraged clients to move quickly into work without being selective about which job to take. Participants spent two weeks in a job club operated by public school staff, then began applying to jobs for up to three weeks. Participants who did not find a job during this period participated in unpaid work experiences, more job searching, vocational training, or basic education. Participants who completed the job club but remained unemployed could receive multiple rounds of short-term education or vocational training for periods of nine months.

The Indiana Welfare Reform Initiative was one of the demonstration projects made possible by Section 1115 waivers to the rules in effect at the time for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.

ATCs allowed state prisoners to serve a portion of their prison term living and working in the community. When first placed in an ATC, prisoners received counseling and participated in 35 hours a week of individualized education, public service, vocational training, and employment programming. After complying with ATC rules (for example, returning to the center at scheduled times) and the 35 hour a week participation requirements for 23 days, participants could seek employment in the community with support from the ATC.