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.

Child support and workforce staff were co-located and communicated regularly to quickly connect noncustodial parents to employment services and to modify child support orders. These staff also worked closely with the court system to require noncustodial parents to participate in Parents to Work, review participation, and impose incentives and sanctions when appropriate.

CET’s MFSP program provided out-of-school youth with full-time basic education and skills training in a work-like setting to provide participants with hands-on training experience. The program worked with local employers to develop and teach training curriculum and focused on improving the participants’ practical skills to meet the employment demands of the local labor market. Individualized job placement services were also provided to assist participants in securing jobs after the training program.

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).

Jobs First 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. These Section 1115 waivers allowed states to test new approaches to advance the objectives of the AFDC program.