In the Year 4 Evaluation Report, we evaluated the impact of Minnesota’s Work First program compared to MFIP on overall welfare participation of the applicants. MAXIMUS developed a logistic model in which the welfare status of participants 18 months after application served as the dependent variable in the study. MAXIMUS wanted to explore whether WorkFIRST applicants had a different probability of being active in welfare compared to applicants in the MFIP comparison counties. We utilized a series of individual, demographic, and programmatic covariates in the model.

We found that there was no statistically significant difference in the probability of being active in the welfare program between the WorkFIRST and 1-month time trigger clients. For applicants in the 6-month MFIP counties, the odds ratio was less than 1, indicating that their risk of exiting was less than for clients in the WorkFIRST counties.

The variables that had a statistically significant increase on the odds ratio of leaving welfare compared to a reference category included the following: Hispanics, African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, households with 2 caretakers or which changed from 1 to 2 caretakers, and an increase in the age of the caretaker.

The variables that had a statistically significant decrease on the odds ratio of leaving welfare compared to a reference category included the following: African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, clients with no high school diploma or GED, families with 3 children or which had an increase in the number of children, clients who were pregnant at application, an increase in the number of months working while receiving benefits, and an increase in the number of months exempt from work requirements.

In the Year 3 Evaluation Report, we analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of welfare stayers and leavers, by model. With regard to welfare leavers, we analyzed the various employment, personal, and family factors given as reasons for leaving welfare. In addition, we analyzed the reasons clients gave for terminating from employment services. We analyzed whether there was a correlation between working while receiving MFIP and leaving MFIP due to employment. We also examined Food Stamp and Medical Assistance usage and combined family income after exiting MFIP.

With regard to welfare stayers, we assessed their overall well-being in their 1-year anniversary month, their utilization of employment services, and the usefulness of various employment services.