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http://www.researchforum.org/project_general_94.html |
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Illinois Families Study
General Information
View a brief abstract of this project.
| Evaluator(s) |
University Consortium on Welfare Reform (Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, Northern Illinois University, and University of Illinois at Chicago) Northwestern University |
| Investigator(s) |
Jim Lewis
(Roosevelt University)
Paul Kleppner (Northern Illinois University) Stephanie Riger (University of Illinois at Chicago) Jane Holl (Northwestern University) Dan Lewis (Northwestern University) Bong Joo Lee (Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago) Robert Goerge (Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago) |
| Domain |
Income Security/TANF Child/Family |
| Status | Operational with Findings |
| Duration | Mar 1999 - Mar 2006 |
| Type |
Research and/or Program Evaluation |
| Program/Policy Description |
In 1997 the Illinois state legislature mandated that the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)seek out university researchers to design and conduct a six-year panel study of welfare reform. The Illinois Families Study (IFS) is being conducted by a consortium of researchers from four Illinois universities in response to that legislative mandate. The primary goal of the study is to inform legislators, state program administrators, social service providers, advocates, and other policymakers about how Illinois families are faring since the implementation of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other welfare reform policies. To do so, the study will follow a representative sample of families from nine Illinois counties over six years.
Annual in-person surveys and administrative data from several state agencies are the two primary components of the core IFS. Several supplemental studies, including an embedded assessment of child well-being, have recently been added to the core IFS. |
| Notes | Visit the project web site. |
| Last Updated | 12/07/04 |
| Type of Summary | Unreviewed |
| Contact(s) |
Amy Bush Stevens (a-stevens4@northwestern.edu)
Northwestern University 2040 Sheridan Road (T) (847) 491-5889 (F) (847) 491-9916 |
| Submitter(s) |
Amy Bush Stevens (a-stevens4@northwestern.edu)
Northwestern University 2040 Sheridan Road (T) (847) 491-5889 (F) (847) 491-9916 |
Populations Studied
| Target Population |
Recipients/participants/clients Former recipients ("leavers") Children |
| Subgroups Analyzed |
Children 1-6 Children younger than 1 (infants) Rural Populations Minority populations |
| Sample Size and Unit | Random sample drawn from grantees receiving Illinois TANF at some point between September and November 1998; Sample was stratified by two geographic regions: Cook County and the remaining counties; Sample is representative of Illinois TANF caseload, including rural and urban populations. The primary TANF grantee at the time of sample selection (usually the mother) is the unit of analysis for the core IFS. Young children (under age 5 at Wave 2) are the unit of analysis for the child well-being supplemental study. |
| Execution |
Survey response rates
Wave 1: 72% (1,362 surveys) |
Sites Studied
Nine Illinois counties, representing 75% of the state TANF caseload (Cook, Knox, Stark, Marshall, Fulton, Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, and St. Clair).Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated
Employment activities
Educational activities
Financial incentives
Financial disincentives/Sanctions
Program requirements
Time limits
Family caps
Food stamps
Social/Support services
Post-Program activities
Administration/Implementation
| Variation in program components across sites? | No |
Outcomes Assessed
Housing
Attitudes towards work, welfare, and program
Standard of living
Service utilization
Sanctions
Income security
Employment
Adult outcomes
Child Outcomes
Types of Studies
| Type | Longitudinal/Prospective Study |
| Type | Embedded Child Outcomes Study |
| Type | Descriptive/Analytical Study |
Data Sources
| Source | Administrative data |
| Source | Survey |
| Source | Direct observations of child interactions |
Findings Available
Interim Descriptive/Analytical FindingsRecommendations
Existing Publications
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