Outcomes

Adults

Employment, earnings, recidivism, other program and private assistance receipt, child support, reason for leaving TANF, health and health care coverage, and barriers to self-sufficiency

Children

Child care receipt and quality, use of child welfare services

Population

Study population

Former recipients of cash assistance

Definition of leavers

Case closed for at least 2 months; also sample of 1-month leavers

Divertees/applicants

No; Arizona's diversion program not implemented yet

Eligible, not participating

No

Child-only cases

No

Unit of observation

Closed case

Methodology

Cohort definitions

TANF closed cash assistance cases 10/96–12/96; similar 2nd cohort 1/98–3/98 (after EMPOWER—Track I program began)

Comparison groups

Reason for case closure, across local economic conditions, urban/rural, education level, age, and marital status

Administrative Data

Sources

Cash assistance, food stamp, Medicaid, UI, JOBS, child care, child support, child protective services, emergency assistance

Years/time covered

Both cohorts tracked for 12 months; data as far back as 1990

Linkages

Cohort II data linked with survey data

Survey Data

Sample population

Random sample of all Cohort II closed cases

Design

Stratified by reason for closing (2 strata); mixed mode survey

Number of observations

Hope to have 400 completed surveys from each strata; will sample 1,200 cases

Response rate

Aiming for 67%

Timing

Surveyed approximately one year after case closed

Subcontractor

Currently none

Special Features