Details innovative programs in Illinois, Nebraska, and Tennessee participating in a rigorous five-year study of rural welfare-to-work strategies. Also discusses the evaluation design. The project, which will assess the effectiveness of three diverse program approaches in promoting the...

This study, designed to examine whether innovative approaches can improve employment and other outcomes for rural low-income people, is examining specialized programs in Illinois, Nebraska, and Tennessee. Based on a largely qualitative assessment of program implementation, the authors note that...

To address challenges faced by hard-to-employ TANF clients, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, in partnership with the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, operated the Building Nebraska Families (BNF) program from 2002 to 2005. The initiative combined intensive home visitation...

This report presents 30-month impact and benefit-cost analysis findings for the Building Nebraska Families program, an intensive home visitation and life skills education program for hard-to-employ TANF clients in rural Nebraska. The program improved employment near the end of the 30-month...

This study, designed to examine whether innovative approaches can improve employment and other outcomes for rural low-income people, is examining specialized programs in Illinois, Nebraska, and Tennessee. Based on a largely qualitative assessment of program implementation, the authors note that...

This report presents 30-month impact analysis findings for the Illinois Future Steps program, an employment-focused case management program in rural, southern Illinois. By teaming the welfare agency with a regional community college, Future Steps aimed to connect people with services and...

Helping low-income families in rural areas find gainful employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency is an ongoing policy concern. The Rural Welfare-to-Work Strategies demonstration is using rigorous experimental designs to build knowledge about how to help low-income families in rural areas...

Examines challenges facing low-income parents, employers, and service providers in three high-poverty areas: Camden City, Cumberland County, and Newark. Finds that many low-income parents do not make use of tax credits, child care subsidies, and job placement services for which they are...

Blends quantitative and qualitative analyses to highlight welfare clients’ employment experiences and obstacles and related service delivery issues in rural and urban areas. Also discusses opportunities for Nebraska to enhance its welfare program. Rural clients were more likely than urban ones...