Appendix 3 - TANF Case Studies project description

JANUARY 2019

State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Case Studies
What is the background for the study?

Moving toward self-sufficiency can be daunting for low-income individuals and
families. In addition to dealing with serious barriers to employment, such as
limited education, poor work history, or health issues, they also frequently need to
interact with complex TANF, workforce, and support systems in their efforts to
obtain and maintain employment. States and localities have increasingly pursued
innovative approaches to help these individuals obtain success in the workforce
and increase their overall stability. Such approaches can involve employment and
training strategies, such as apprenticeship and career pathways programs,
subsidized and transitional employment, vocational training, and goal-setting and
executive function skills coaching. To be successful, these approaches also
require effective coordination with providers of wraparound services, including
child care, transportation, and homeless and emergency assistance, to provide
the critical supports families need for long-term success.

What is the study’s
focus?

Through this study, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in
collaboration with the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) in the Administration for
Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
seeks to expand the knowledge base of innovative employment and training
programs for low-income individuals, including TANF recipients. The study will
also examine the ways programs provide or link families to wraparound services.
The project will result in up to 12 qualitative case studies of innovative programs
to showcase promising approaches. OPRE has contracted with Mathematica
Policy Research and its partner, MEF Associates, to design and conduct the
study.

How will the study be
conducted?

The State TANF Case Studies project will involve several phases:
 Identifying innovative programs through a scan of the field and engagement
with stakeholders
 Visiting selected programs to interview program staff and participants,
conduct structured case reviews, and observe program activities
 Writing up to 12 case studies to enhance policymakers’ and other
stakeholders’ understanding of programs helping low-income individuals to
succeed

When will the study
happen?

The study began in September 2018 and will continue through September 2021.

What will the study
produce?

The study team will develop case studies of selected innovative programs for lowincome individuals and families that will be easy for policymakers, researchers,
and program implementers to understand. The team will also produce a final
report that compiles all completed case studies and discusses the study’s
approach, data collection, and contributions to the field.

To find out more

Contact the Mathematica project director: Linda Rosenberg at (609) 936-2762
or LRosenberg@mathematica-mpr.com. Contact the OPRE project officer:
Girley Wright at (202) 401-5070 or Girley.Wright@acf.hhs.gov.

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