Policy & Regulation

Final Report July 2004 Prepared for:U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAssistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

This project, which resulted in both a key highlights issue brief and a full report, examines how a state's ability to fund social welfare programs affects its state spending choices on programs to support low-income populations. The project includes a two-part study of state spending on social services.

Content The Study What We Found Endnote Social welfare programs strive to improve the well-being of needy and vulnerable populations.

Between 1996 and 2001, welfare cases declined nationally by 52 percent, while child-only cases declined by much less. Thus, while the number of child-only cases has fluctuated over time, their proportionate share of the TANF caseload has increased. Children in TANF child-only cases with relative caregivers occupy uncertain territory between the TANF and the child welfare service systems.

By: Cynthia Miller, MDRC, Mary Farrell, The Lewin Group, Maria Cancian, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Daniel R. Meyer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Prepared for: Jennifer Burnszynski and Linda Mellgren  

Content Findings from Existing Research Options for Future Research  

Content Key Research Questions Data and Methods Key Findings Conclusions Endnotes

Contents Research Questions Data Sources Study Limitations Characteristics of the Study States Key Findings Potential Next Steps The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opport

By: Lashawn Richburg-Hayes and Stephen Freedman MDRC April 2004 Submitted to:U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

This report analyzes the experiences of welfare "cyclers," a group that has received relatively little attention in previous research on welfare dynamics. For this study, "cycling" is defined as receipt of welfare benefits during three or more discrete spells during a four-year "observation" period.