Research and/or Program Evaluation
Policy Analysis
Goal
To describe changing state management systems for social service programs, to determine what goals they are designed to achieve, and to develop recommendations regarding the strengths and weaknesses of different management strategies.
Program/Policy Description
Social programs include welfare, Medicaid, and workforce development. Functions examined are: 1) management including the redirection of bureaucratic cultures; 2) the development of oversight systems to hold public and private entities accountable for performance; 3) the allocation of budgets and staff to achieve program goals; and 4) the creation and use of management information systems appropriate to program goals.
Notes
Please see new "Citizen's Guide" on project web site.
Local government
Social/Community service agencies
Low-income households
Subgroups Analyzed
Recipients/participants/clients
Former recipients ("leavers")
Pregnant/parenting teens
Applicants
Single parent families
Persons diverted from welfare
Two-parent families
Low-wage workers
Caseworkers/managers/administrators
Employers
Sample Size and Unit
Sample size varies depending on the scope of the study. In addition to the state-level analysis, the 2001-02 round of research also includes 2 or more local sites in each state. For a description of field-network methodology, refer to "First Look" book on the Rockefeller Institute website.
Sites Studied
Arizona
California
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
