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General Information
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| Evaluator(s) |
Texas Department of Human Services
Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, University of Texas at Austin
School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin
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| Investigator(s) |
Deanna Schexnayder
(Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas)
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| Funder(s) |
Texas Department of Human Services
US Department of Health and Human Services
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| Domain |
Income Security/TANF
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| Status |
Completed (final report released)
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| Duration |
Jul 1997 - Jul 2003
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| Type |
Research and/or Program Evaluation
Policy Analysis
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| Goal |
The major objectives of the ACT evaluation were:
- To document how well the demonstration was implemented;
- To determine the impacts of the ACT waiver policies on a number of public assistance, economic and child outcomes; and to report participants’ views of welfare reform.
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| Program/Policy Description |
The Achieving Change for Texans (ACT) demonstration was created after the enactment of Texas HB1863 and operated in several locations from June 1996 to March 2002. It was one of the last AFDC state waivers to be approved before the passage of PRWORA. The waiver attempts to assist participants in achieving independence from welfare by putting stronger emphasis on employment, training, temporary assistance and support services.
The ACT demonstration included the following components:
- State Time Limits- Adult TANF recipients were assigned one of three time limit tiers (12, 24, 36 months) based on their educational attainment and work history.
- Expanded TANF eligibility rules- ACT expanded TANF eligibility for certain low-income families.
- Personal Responsibility Agreement — Caretakers were required to sign a personal responsibility agreement (PRA) as a condition of TANF eligibility. In counties with a Choices program, state time limits also applied. The PRA states the client will:
- Cooperate with child support requirements
- Provide immunizations and regular check ups for children
- Refrain from voluntarily quitting their job
- Participate in an employment services program.
- Refrain from drug use and alcohol abuse
- Provide proof of school attendance for each child
- Participate in parenting skills classes if referred
Those not complying received financial penalties.
- One time cash payments in lieu of TANF — Allowed certain TANF eligible families who also met certain criteria crisis to obtain a one time payment of $1000 instead of TANF. This benefit was available to all eligible families and was not designed as a randomized experiment.
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| Notes |
No notes reported.
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| Last Updated |
11/16/05
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| Type of Summary |
Reviewed
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| External Reviewer(s) |
Deanna Schexnayder
(Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas)
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| Contact(s) |
Deanna Schexnayder (dschex@uts.cc.utexas.edu)
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas
Center for the Study of Human Resources
Mail Code: A1300
(T) (512)-471-2193
(F) (512)-471-0585
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| Submitter(s) |
Deanna Schexnayder (dschex@uts.cc.utexas.edu)
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas
Center for the Study of Human Resources
Mail Code: A1300
(T) (512)-471-2193
(F) (512)-471-0585
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Populations Studied
| Target Population |
Recipients/participants/clients
Low-income households
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| Sample Size and Unit |
N = 44,852 individuals randomly assigned to either the experimental group or control group with one of the following components: |
Sites Studied
Time limit sites:
Bexar County, TexasTime Limits plus Personal Responsibility Agreement Sites:
Beaumont, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas (Dillon Street Office)
El Paso, Texas (Clint Office)
Odessa, Texas Personal Responsibility Agreement Sites:
Hondo, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Lockhart, Texas
Luling, Texas AFDC One-Time Sites:
Texas (statewide)
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