In 1997, New Jersey implemented its welfare initiative, Work First New Jersey, which included five-year time limits on cash assistance, immediate work requirements for most clients, and expanded support services. This fifth, and final, report from our multiyear study tracking an early group of...

Shows that WFNJ clients continue to leave welfare for work and improve their outcomes. Although many are in low-paying jobs, their earnings are increasing, and more are getting fringe benefits. However, one in three remains on TANF, and they face multiple barriers to employment--for example,...

The Social Security Administration is funding a random assignment evaluation of six demonstration projects to improve employment and other outcomes for youth ages 14 to 25 who are either receiving disability benefits or are at high risk of receiving them in the future. This report reviews the...

Based on four rounds of annual follow-up surveys with an early group of NJ TANF recipients, this brief can help inform recent policy debates related to welfare and marriage. The study found that marriage is relatively rare for TANF recipients, with only about 1 in 10 married and living with a...

This report profiles six projects participating in the random assignment evaluation. The projects are up and running in the Bronx; four counties in Colorado; Erie County (Buffalo), New York; Miami-Dade County; Montgomery County, Maryland; and 19 counties in West Virginia.

This report presents findings from the Girls Shape the Future study, which was designed to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Girls Incorporated® Will Power/Won’t Power® curriculum developed to reduce sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections...

This four-page issue brief notes that government housing subsidies improve access to stable, affordable housing for low-income families. Current and former welfare families that receive these subsidies devote a smaller portion of their income to housing, face less housing instability, and live...

A Research Report from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program Evaluation.

This article investigates the long-term economic gains of current and former TANF recipients and explores the extent to which these recipients experience steady economic progress. Results suggest that recipients generally show economic progress but that there is considerable instability and...