The SCCHA increased tenant contribution rates for families receiving Housing Choice Vouchers from about 27 percent to 35 percent (and later reduced this rate to 32 percent). The policy also eliminated all allowances and deductions (such as child care or medical expenses) and reduced the number of bedrooms on a household’s voucher for some families.

Postsecondary Education Services included college or vocational training, counseling, tutoring, and preparation for college entrance exams through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States. Intervention participants also could receive any other CFCIP-offered services, including other asset-building services such as budgeting and financial education.

Budgeting and Financial Education Services included providing information about financial assets and asset building, such as how to open a savings account, and information about taxes and tax filing assistance through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States.

To continue to receive benefits, TANF participants were required to engage in employment-related activities for 32 hours per week. Program staff allowed TANF participants in the Training Focused intervention to decrease work hours per week to zero hours to pursue education and training activities, with the philosophy that eliminating the requirement to engage in work would allow participants to access the most useful education and training programs.

Youth formerly in state custody (foster care or the juvenile justice system) received customized case management that included weekly meetings with a transitional living specialist who used motivational interviewing and provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy services as needed. Participants also received soft-skills training, supportive services, and other services to encourage independent living, education, and work.

TSMF 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. TSMF consisted of 21 policy changes, enacted in two parts. The first set of policy changes included a social contract that participants were required to sign agreeing they would engage in employment, education, training, or other self-improvement activities for at least 20 hours per week.