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This project examines the effect of welfare reform in Indiana on social services. The project developed three surveys to analyze different groups potentially affected by program changes: 1. a Client study; 2. the Social Service Provider Survey (SSPS) study; and 3. the Township study.
The Client study addressed the following research questions:
1. How do current and former welfare recipients make ends meet and to what extent do they rely on help from friends and family, community social service agencies, nonprofit, religious organizations, and the Indiana township trustees?
2. What factors present barriers to, or faciliate economic independence among current and former welfare recipients?
The Social Service Provider Survey (SSPS) study addresses the following research questions:
(1) What is the existing capacity of social service agencies serving current and former welfare recipients?;
(2) What are the impacts of welfare reform on changes in service demand and changes in services provided?;
(3) What kinds of employment services do these organizations provide directly and what kind of employment services do these organizations offer through referrals?;
(4) How well are service providers delivering employment and training programs and related service to Indiana’s welfare caseload?;
(5) What are the barriers that social service organizations face in moving clients from welfare to work?; and
(6) What are the impacts of welfare reform on changes in collaboration and cooperation patterns among direct service
providers, and changes in the social service system?
The Township Trustee component of the project addressed the research questions:
1. How are the caseloads of the township trustees affected by the Indiana welfare reforms?
2. How does the need for services from the trustees change as welfare reforms are implemented?
3. How do the township trustees respond to the expressed needs of former welfare recipients and others who present themselves for services?
4. In referring clients to other community agencies, are there changes in the referral patterns in the community?
5. What formal and informal mechanisms in the community operate to foster collaboration and coordination among service providers at the local level?
6. What local economic or social service changes have occurred since 1995 that may also account for changes in caseload and demand for services?
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