The WorkFirst Longitudinal Study

The Study survey collected information on a broad range of activities and characteristics for a sample of current and former WorkFirst clients. Respondents were re-interviewed in order to track the transitions and changes in their lives and to identify which WorkFirst components, training, or educational activities are related to leaving and staying off TANF. The survey information was merged with administrative data to form an unbroken record, over time, of clients' activities and characteristics. The survey questionnaire covered the following topics:

Family structure
Labor market activity
Education and training
WorkFirst activities
Household income
Health and insurance
Housing
Fringe benefits from work
Food economics and food bank usage
Help from family, friends, and local services
Children's school performance
Child care (use, cost, quality)
Mental health
Substance abuse
Domestic violence
Criminal activity

The study sample represented Eastern and Western Washington, urban and rural counties, one and two-parent cases, and minority clients in sufficient numbers for sub-group analysis. The sample was refreshed by new sample members each year to ensure the survey accurately represented the current TANF caseload.

What policy questions can be answered? Analyses of the survey data enabled us to address a variety of important policy questions, including: