Abstract
This study examined the effects of U.S. Welfare-to-Work programs on the employment outcomes of Temporary Assistance to Needy
Family (TANF) recipients. Using the Survey of Program Dynamics and the Welfare Rules Database, the present study followed
unemployed TANF recipients who participated in Human Capital Development (HCD) and Labor Force Attachment (LFA) programs from
1997 through 2001. The analyses examined how program participation affected recipients’ employment while holding the effects
of the state economy and various TANF rules constant. The results showed that, unlike the assumption of the work-first strategy
in the welfare reform, participation in HCD programs was associated with a higher probability of obtaining and maintaining
employment than participation in LFA programs.
Family (TANF) recipients. Using the Survey of Program Dynamics and the Welfare Rules Database, the present study followed
unemployed TANF recipients who participated in Human Capital Development (HCD) and Labor Force Attachment (LFA) programs from
1997 through 2001. The analyses examined how program participation affected recipients’ employment while holding the effects
of the state economy and various TANF rules constant. The results showed that, unlike the assumption of the work-first strategy
in the welfare reform, participation in HCD programs was associated with a higher probability of obtaining and maintaining
employment than participation in LFA programs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-011-9272-1
- Authors
- Jeounghee Kim, School of Social Work, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476