Self-Sufficiency and Safety: The Case for Onsite Domestic Violence Services at Employment Services Agencies
October 2004
This report presents the findings of a two-year demonstration project that provided domestic violence services to participants in programs at employment services agencies, highlighting the challenges, service needs, and outcomes of low-income domestic violence survivors as they struggle to keep themselves and their children safe, become and remain employed, and attain self-sufficiency.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Addressing Domestice Violence as a Barrier to Work: Building Collaborations between Domestic Violence Service Providers and Employment Services Agencies
October 2004
This report summarizes the project learnings and best practice recommendations for integrating domestic violence services into employment services agencies. It discusses establishing and maintaining interagency collaborations, training of case managers, conducting screening and referrals, and ongoing delivery of domestic violence services within the employment services setting.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Sentencing Reform for Nonviolent Offenses: Benefits and Estimated Savings for Illinois
October 2004
Commissioned by the Developing Justice Coalition, this report examines alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses. The report discusses the potential cost savings and the social benefits of sentencing nonviolent drug offenders to mandated substance abuse treatment and intensive community supervision instead of prison.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Community Organizing in Three South Side Chicago Communities: Leadership, Activities, and Prospects
September 2004
This study identifies barriers facing groups and leaders in communities on the South Side of Chicago that limit not only their capacity for organizing but also their ability to attract resources for their work. The findings also provide key data on current activities at the grassroots level, with particular attention to groups and leaders that have the potential to expand the scope of their efforts to larger, community-based initiatives.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Current Strategies for Reducing Recidivism
August 2004
This study reports on programs for inmates and released inmates that are contributing to reductions in recidivism. Programs showing the greatest success address the issues of substance abuse, low educational attainment, and the need for vocational training, job readiness, and placement services.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Knocking on the Door: Barriers to Welfare and Other Assistance for Teen Parents
April 2002
Results of a survey conducted by young mothers in Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago, and recommendations for the federal reauthorization of TANF.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Accessing TANF Assistance: A Survey of Low-Income Young Mothers in Chicago
April 2002
A report detailing the trouble that young mothers have in accessing and keeping TANF assistance in Chicago.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Barriers to English Language Learners in the Chicago Metropolitan Area
June 2001
A report detailing the number of adults with English Language Learning needs in the Chicago metropolitan area and the numerous barriers to their receiving English instruction.
Full Report

The Prostitution of Women and Girls In Metropolitan Chicago: A Preliminary Prevalence Report
May 2001
A survey of the prevalence of prostitution of women and girls in Metropolitan Chicago.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Ending Child Poverty: What is happening in the UK?
May 2001
A report from the Center for Impact Research's U.S./UK Welfare Reform Working Group.
Full Report

Cultural Change Within Adult and Family Services
May 2001
A report from the Center for Impact Research's U.S./UK Welfare Reform Working Group.
Full Report

Less Than Ideal: The Reality of Implementing a Welfare-to-Work Program for Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors in Collaboration With the TANF Department
February 2001
An article about the Options/Opciones project.
Full Article

Helping With Domestic Violence: Legal Barriers to Serving Teens in Illinois
December 2000
A look at the barriers to serving teen victims of intimate partner violence in Illinois with respect to counseling, housing, and orders of protection.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Saving Bernice: Battered Women, Welfare, and Poverty
June 2000
Jody Raphael's book demonstrating that domestic violence and dependence on public assistance are intricately linked.
Link to Book

Elements of Success in Welfare to Work Programs: Programmatic and Policy Recommendations
March 2000
A 1998-2000 analysis of 8 welfare-to-work programs.
Full Report

GED Issues Brief #1
March 2000
New research on innovative GED test-taking procedures.
Full Brief

Sweatshops in Chicago: A Survey of Working Conditions in Low-income and Immigrant Communities
February 2000
A survey of the prevalence of sweatshop conditions in the Chicago Metropolitan area.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Domestic Violence and Birth Control Sabotage: A Report From The Teen Parent Project
February 2000
Prevalence of domestic violence within a sample of teen mothers on welfare and demonstration of how domestic violence sabotages the girls' birth control arrangements.
Executive Summary
Full Report

A SECOND CHANCE: Improving Chicago's GED Performance
March 1998
An analysis of Chicago's low GED pass rate and suggestions for improvement.
Full Report