Assessment is often the first step in helping TANF recipients living with a disability find and maintain employment. This brief describes five different approaches to assessment: disability screening, psychosocial assessments, clinical and psychological assessments, functional needs assessments,...

Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment preparation services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide. This brief explores the benefits and challenges of linking TANF and VR services, describes partnerships that have been formed in...

This report, which examines social service enrollment reforms in FL, PA, TX, and WA, informs the state of California and stakeholders as they consider changes in the enrollment process for public health and social services programs.

Highlights operational lessons from a Pennsylvania initiative that operated from 1998 through early 2001 and contributed to the state's current program of pre- and postemployment services for TANF recipients. Notes implementation challenges, including lower than expected enrollment, job...

Notes that case management, the program's central feature, was valued by participants, but more concrete services, such as help with child care, transportation, or work-related issues, may be helpful.

Provides an early, in-depth look at newly employed welfare recipients in Allegheny County, PA, who are taking part in a voluntary employment retention program, finding that most are keeping their jobs but may need help with job advancement.

Notes that in spring 1999, almost 60 percent of families left Iowa's TANF program voluntarily and most were able to remain off the rolls for at least a year. Eight to 12 months after they left, just over 60 percent of family heads were working, and many families still relied on Medicaid....

This report describes opportunities to rigorously test the effectiveness of employment initiatives for this population. The report addresses two key questions: (1) Which strategies would be most interesting to test and how could programs be designed to support rigorous evaluations of them? (2)...

Notes that the mix of families remaining on cash assistance has changed, with child-only cases—in which only children are receiving assistance—becoming a growing portion of New Jersey’s welfare caseload. These cases grew from 17 percent of the state’s caseload in 1995 to 33...

This brief profiles two programs, one statewide and one local, for analyzing, reporting, and using data to hold case managers and administrators accountable for increasing the work participation of TANF recipients. The selected strategies use data to keep staff informed about progress toward...