Research Links
Policy Institute Evaluations — The Washington State Institute for Public Policy has also conducted evaluations of the WorkFirst program.
Training Reports — The State Board for Technical and Community Colleges (SBCTC) has evaluated results of the college system's WorkFirst training programs.
Recent RDA Studies — The Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division (RDA) produces research on various issues related to welfare and low-income families.
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services — The federal agency's Administration for Children and Families offers a welfare reform page featuring guidance on federal rules and other resources.
American Public Human Services Association — This organization of human service agencies seeks to educate lawmakers, the media and the public about policies that improve the health and well-being of families, children, and adults.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — Is a nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs.
State TANF Policies — The State Policy Documentation Project Website offers a national overview and details from every state on their welfare and related policies.
National Conference of State Legislatures — An organization for state legislators and staffers offers information, research and publications on state policy issues, such as welfare reform.
NGA Center for Best Practices — The National Governor's Association offers welfare reform policy information, links to related sites, information from the 50 states, and NGA positions.
- Improving Access to Benefits for Low-Income Families, August 2006 — Low-income families have a variety of income supports available to help encourage stable employment and increase self sufficiency, including TANF, SCHIP, Medicaid, food stamps, and childcare subsidies. This article reviews a streamlined strategy to help families access necessary income supports. By integrating service delivery through call centers and the Internet, States can implement a comprehensive approach to better serve families.
Center for Law and Social Policy — CLASP is a national non-profit organization with expertise in both law and policy affecting the poor.
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) — Dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of low-income people to enhance the effectiveness of social policies and programs.
The Brookings Institute — The welfare reform page looks at issues related to Congressional reauthorization of TANF.
Economic Success Clearinghouse — A clearinghouse for information, policy analysis and technical assistance on welfare reform. This site covers virtually every possible issue related to welfare.
Stateline.org — Stateline offers "your source for news on state policy innovations." This site daily posts new social services articles from newspapers across the nation.
Training Reports — The State Board for Technical and Community Colleges has evaluated results of the college system's WorkFirst training programs.
WorkFirst/Welfare Reports — The Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division produces research on various issues related to welfare and low-income families.
Institute for Research on Poverty — A national, university-based center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States.
The Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families — A national resource center for journalists who cover children and family issues.
Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network — Research and Resources
The Urban Institute — Features a welfare reform section.
- Helping Women Stay Off Welfare: The Role of Post-Exit Receipt of Work Supports, August 2007 — From the Urban Institute and assesses the role of work support programs and services in helping people stay off TANF and reduce recidivism into the welfare system. Specifically looking at the role of food stamps and Medicaid, authors found that TANF leavers who use food stamps as a transitional support when they leave TANF are less likely to return to TANF and more likely to be employed for the year after exit than leavers who did not use such supports.
- TANF Policies for the Hard-to-Employ: Understanding State Approaches and Future Directions, July 2007 — From the Urban Institute, summarizes how states are serving clients with multiple barriers on their TANF caseloads and provides information on recent changes in states’ approaches to serving this population. Authors interviewed TANF program officials in the States of California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
- Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Labor Force 2000-2005, March 2007 — From the Urban Institute, examines trends in immigrants’ role in the low-wage and lower-skilled labor force. From 2000 to 2005, the U.S. immigrant population increased from to 35.7 million, and the immigrant labor force increased slightly. However, at the same time, the number of unauthorized immigrants increased to more than 11 million. This increase resulted in the number of immigrants in low-wage, lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and services.
