Earnings

Earnings

Jobs-First Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) Program had the largest effects on long-term annual earnings (an average of $4,483 per year). Jobs-First GAIN emphasized a rapid employment strategy to help recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) improve their earnings and employment outcomes. 

Employment

Employment

Jobs-First Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) Program had the largest effects on long-term employment (an average of 6 percentage points). Jobs-First GAIN emphasized a rapid employment strategy to help recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) improve their earnings and employment outcomes. 

Public benefit receipt

Public benefit receipt

Prenatal and Infancy Home Visiting by Nurses had the largest effects on long-term benefit receipt (decreasing the amount of public benefits received by $2,278 per year). Prenatal and Infancy Home Visiting by Nurses provided home visits intended to promote family economic self-sufficiency by improving maternal life-course outcomes. The program focused on increasing employment, decreasing public benefit usage, and improving family planning.

Effects on long-term benefit receipt

$2,278

Decrease long-term benefit receipt

Education and training

Education and training

Atlanta Human Capital Development (HCD) Program had the largest effects on education and training (increasing the attainment of a degree or credential by an average of 8 percentage points). To help participants secure jobs that could lead to economic self-sufficiency, Atlanta’s HCD program focused on providing education and training to single parents who were Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients.

Michigan Opportunity and Skills Training (MOST) followed by Work First

MOST was Michigan's Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills Training program for individuals receiving AFDC. Michigan changed MOST after receiving one of 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. Detroit's MOST program, with the changes made under the waiver, was included in a five-year national evaluation of workforce programs for individuals receiving AFDC which began in 1992.

Integrated Case Management

Intervention (standard name)

Integrated Case Management participants worked with a single case manager to improve their educational and vocational skills and determine their welfare eligibility and payment issuance. Participants who did not have a high school diploma or general education diploma were assigned to basic education classes; participants with basic education credentials were assigned to vocational training, postsecondary education, or work experience. Case managers provided job search assistance after they determined that participants were employable.

Chicago Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA)

Chicago ERA matched participants with a career and income advisor (CIA) who counseled them about how to advance in their current jobs and apply for higher-paying jobs. Participants could receive other education and training services and financial incentives for maintaining contact with their case manager to verify their work hours. A30-hour work requirement was part of their TANF participation, and failure to work at this level could result in a sanction of their TANF benefits. The program served participants for up to  two years, even if they left TANF.

Work Choice

Intervention (standard name)

Work Choice 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.

Traditional Case Management

Intervention (standard name)

Traditional Case Management participants worked with one case manager to improve educational and vocational skills and with a separate income maintenance case manager to determine their welfare eligibility and payment issuance. Participants who did not have a high school diploma or general education diploma were assigned to basic education classes; participants with basic education credentials were assigned to vocational training, postsecondary education, or work experience. Case managers provided job search assistance after they determined that participants were employable.

Atlanta Urban League (AUL) Minority Female Single Parent (MFSP) Program

The MFSP program implemented by the Atlanta Urban League focused first on providing full-time adult basic education and GED instruction to women with poor reading, writing, or math skills, and then occupational skills training and additional supports once participants overcame academic barriers.