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Project Description

The project is designed to evaluate North Carolina's welfare reform program, known as Work First. The evaluation combines three methodologies: 1) surveys of current and former welfare clients and diverters, 2) longitudinal analysis of administrative data on welfare recipients, leavers, and diverters, including TANF participation, food stamp participation, and earnings, and 3) site visits to counties to examine program implementation and best practices. One component of the study is the examination of "devolution" of the TANF program to selected counties under legislation passed in 1998.

Project duration: Jul 1996 - Mar 2003

Sites studied include North Carolina
Site visits and special studies are being conducted in 23 counties. Surveys and administrative data analysis are also being conducted on a statewide basis.

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

Several surveys have been completed or are in progress: 1) surveys of 315 families who left welfare due to time limits, 2) surveys of 242 families who received lump-sum diversion payments, and 3) surveys of 1,875 welfare leavers.

Recent Findings in Brief

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