The
Fry Welfare Reform Project
The Center for Impact Research undertook an analysis
of eight welfare-to-work programs funded by the
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation between 1998 and 2000 in
Chicago to identify successful program elements,
isolate barriers to employment presented by participants,
and make recommendations for welfare reform policy.
The report, issued in March 2000, "Elements
of Success in Welfare-to-Work Programs: Programmatic
and Policy Recommendations," is available at
the CIR website.
The
research identified four major barriers that interfered
with program completion. These were child care,
health, substance abuse, and low literacy levels.
As half the drop outs due to child care had school
age children in addition to younger children,
the report cites the need to develop child care
options that include the ability to accept children
of different ages. The report provides strong
evidence for the proposition that welfare participants
with health and substance abuse problems should
be referred to programs for services before attempting
labor force attachment activities.
The
research also led to recommendations for successful
job training programs. Programs that provided
individualized attention early on appeared to
have greater success in retaining participants,
and those with strong case management services
stood a better chance of understanding the barriers
they face and retaining them in the program.
Project Publications
Elements
of Success in Welfare to Work Programs: Programmatic
and Policy Recommendations
3/00
A 1998-2000 analysis of 8 welfare-to-work programs.
Full
Report
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