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...

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...

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...

Finds that most WtW grantees, except recently funded ones, are now delivering services, but restrictive eligibility rules still in effect in late 1999 continue to impede enrollment. Despite low enrollment, grantees have moved expeditiously to place WtW participants in work activities. To date,...

WtW grants represent a new and valuable source of funding for local work-focused services to noncustodial parents. This report documents a variety of recruitment strategies and service approaches being implemented to address this group's employment and service needs, highlighting key issues that...

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...

Presents findings from the outcomes analysis component of the Welfare-to-Work evaluation describing characteristics and experiences of enrollees in 11 sites. Found that enrollees were more likely to receive employment preparation services than skill enhancement services; most were employed...

When TANF was created in 1996, the program imposed new requirements on states to compel welfare recipients to work and place time limits on their benefits. It also offered states substantial flexibility in meeting these federal requirements. As we enter TANF's second decade, it is useful to...