To continue to receive benefits, TANF participants were required to engage in employment-related activities for 32 hours per week. Program staff encouraged TANF participants in the Work Plus intervention to decrease work hours per week to 20 hours to pursue education and training activities, with the philosophy that working reinforced the value of education and training and that working while in school or training increased the likelihood of program completion and the use of newly attained skills. Participation in education and training

A local public human services agency and a community college collaborated to provide VISION services, which included job search assistance and post-employment services in a One-Stop Career Center. Job search assistance included job placement and workshops on job retention and career paths. To help participants prepare for a job that interested them, staff met with participants two to three times a week to help develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP), which described the participants’ career goals and necessary tasks to achieve those goals.

TAAG is a model from the Employment Retention and Advancement study. The TAAG program provided job retention and career advancement services customized to participants’ career interests and personal circumstances. A collaboration of four agencies provided TAAG services; the agencies included a local public human services agency, workforce organizations, and a community college.

Texas ERA began with an orientation followed by a four-day job-search workshop. After the workshop, participants spent four to six weeks searching for jobs. Those that did not find employment during this time were assigned to community service or volunteer positions. Participants who did find jobs became eligible for a $200 monthly stipend, as long as they were employed for at least 30 hours per week, participated in a post-employment advancement activity, or left TANF.

EMPOWER 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.

Six to seven weeks into unemployment, participants were required to report to a job service orientation session. At the orientation, the participants were given information about the services available to them and were scheduled for an assessment interview. The orientation for IJSA+, unlike for IJSA and Structured Job Search Assistance (SJSA), included a coordinated effort with the local Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Act staff to enroll interested participants in training.

Six to seven weeks into unemployment, participants were required to report to a job service orientation session. At the orientation, participants received information about IJSA services and scheduled an assessment interview. During the assessment interview, staff developed an individual service plan for the participant. Individual service plans varied, but the services specified in the plan were mandatory.

Six to seven weeks after submitting a UI claim, participants were required to report to a job service orientation session. After orientation, they completed a one-on-one assessment of their aptitude and interests and participated in a 15-hour job-search workshop. Participants were required to have at least two additional contacts with staff after these initial activities to report on their job search progress.

Moving Up participants received case management and additional services aligned to their individual needs. These additional services included pre- or post-employment services, career counseling, job-search help, education and training, and child care and transportation assistance. Moving Up provided incentives when participants achieved employment, education, or training milestones. The number of services participants received and the length of participation varied based on participants’ particular circumstances.

Work Plus allowed newly employed Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients to reduce work participation (to 20 hours per week) in order to pursue education and training opportunities. This evaluation directly compared Work Plus to a separate intervention, the Training Focused Program, to better understand which of the two interventions might be more effective.