Research Findings on the Effectiveness of State Welfare-to-Work Programs. State Policy Reports.

Research on the results of welfare-to-work programs is both encouraging and sobering. On the one hand, it provides evidence that states can effectively implement various work-oriented programs to encourage large percentages of the welfare caseload to prepare for and enter the labor market. These programs range from rather low-intensity programs aimed at moving recipients into jobs as quickly as possible, to more complex and intensive programs that may include assessment, counseling, and case management as well as education, training, and support services. A number of highly successful programs place a heavy emphasis on employment while providing an integrated set of education, training, and support services. On the other hand, research suggests it is difficult to achieve the multiple objectives established for welfare-to-work programs. None have been able to lift participants out of poverty. A strategy that is successful in increasing the employment and earnings of welfare recipients may not be successful in reducing welfare dependency or achieving cost savings to the government. Strategies aimed at promoting responsible behavior among teenage recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children have met with limited success. Continued research on states' programmatic initiatives and structural reforms will provide additional guidance to inform welfare policy and program implementation. (Appendixes include highlights of major research studies on welfare-to-work programs, and seven endnotes. Contains 21 references. (YLB)