Healthy Families
Healthy families can be important when assisting low- income families and welfare recipients, and this section provides information on how to use marriage, responsible fatherhood, and child welfare to support TANF families.
RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS
This section provides resources on the role of family formation and stabilization in moving families from welfare to self-sufficiency. Resources are displayed in the following categories:
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General Topic
Intergenerational Relationships and Union Stability in Fragile Families, July 2009
This research article uses data from the Fragile Families Study to analyze intergenerational family relationships and stability among married and unmarried parents within five years of a child’s birth. Authors find that positive relationships between fathers and maternal grandparents is associated with a higher likelihood of marriage. The results suggest the importance for understanding broad contexts, such as intergenerational family relationships, when understanding fragile families.
For more information, please see: http://crcw.princeton.edu/workingpapers/WP09-08-FF.pdf
Child Impact Findings from the Next Generation Project
Landmark research conducted by the MDRC-based Next Generation project has produced some of the most compelling evidence to date on how welfare and work policies aimed at adults affect the well-being of their children and adolescents. These results have attracted the attention of policymakers in Washington and opinion leaders in the national press, and they continue to help shape the terms of the state and federal debate over the future direction of welfare policy. In keeping with its mission to disseminate the results of its work broadly, MDRC is pleased to present its first video presentation, a five-minute summary of highlights from the child and adolescent findings. Featuring graphics that display the studies' key points, Next Generation project director Virginia Knox explains in clear, nontechnical English how a variety of welfare reform approaches incorporating work mandates, time limits on welfare-benefit receipt, and earnings supplement affected children's school performance and social adjustment.
For more information, please see: http://www.mdrc.org/announcement_hp_25.html
Incarceration & Reentry
Transitional Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Implementation, Two-Year Impacts, and Costs of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Prisoner Reentry Program, August 2009
Almost 700,000 people are released from prisons annually from across the country, and ex-prisoners face barriers to successfully reentering into society. Stable employment can often be key to help reduce recidivism into the justice system; however, many ex-prisoners experience difficulty finding gainful employment. From MDRC, this report presents results from an evaluation of the New York City-based Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), an employment program for ex-prisoners. Participants are placed in paid transitional jobs shortly after enrollment, and are supervised by CEO staff and receive additional support services.
For more information, please see: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/529/full.pdf
New Evidence for the Efficacy of Transitional Jobs for TANF Recipients and Formerly Incarcerated, April 2009
This resource is from the National Transitional Jobs Network, and provides an overview of research on transitional job programs for TANF participants. The Transitional Jobs model is an employment strategy designed to help people with multiple barriers to work transition into the workforce seamlessly. Such a method can be critical to support TANF participants with a history of incarceration, especially in reducing reentry into prison.
For more information, please see: http://www.transitionaljobs.net/ResearchEvals/New%20Evidence%20for%20the%20Efficacy%20of%20TJ%20Programs%20NTJN%204%2024%2009.pdf
Evaluation of the Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative: Final Report, January 2009
This evaluation was completed through the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration to look at 30 faith-based and community organizations that had received grants to implement a prisoner re-entry initiative demonstration. This program aimed to strengthen communities affected by large numbers of formerly incarcerated individuals through employment-centered projects that incorporate education, job training, housing referrals, mentoring, and other transitional services. Grantees have made progress in placing participants in employment, with two-thirds placed in unsubsidized employment and about half of these placed within three weeks of enrollment.
For more information, please see: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/Evaluation%20of%20the%20Prisoner%20Re%2DEntry%20Initiative%20%2D%20Final%20Report%2Epdf
State Reentry Policy Blueprint: Advice for State Policymakers on Designing Strategies That Improve Employment Outcomes and Increase Public Safety, January 2009
This is a bulletin from the U.S. Department of Labor that provides a preview of an upcoming report on how State policymakers can use data-driven strategies to reduce criminal activity by helping connect at-risk individuals to employment. Authors provide four questions that should be considered when developing effective reentry programs. Reentry programs can be an important step for promoting healthy families and economic self-sufficiency.
For more information, please see: http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/20090116.pdf
Final Evaluation of the President's Prisoner Reentry Initiative, December 2008
Created in 2005, the Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) is a joint endeavor of the U.S. Departments of Labor and Justice. The Initiative seeks to strengthen urban communities that experience a high number of returning prisoners through employment-centered projects that include job training, housing referrals, mentoring, and other comprehensive transitional services. This Evaluation found that among PRI grantees, two-thirds of clients are placed in unsubsidized employment within three weeks.
For more information, please see: http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/20090113.pdf
Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-Based and Community Organizations, December 2008
The U.S. Department of Labor, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Council of State Governments Justice Center published this resource for state government officials and representatives of faith-based and community organizations. This guide offers information on how to create and sustain collaborative efforts to reduce recidivism and to help people returning to the community from prisons or jails lead productive and law-abiding lives.
For more information, please see: http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/20081218.pdf
Life after Lockup: Improving Reentry from Jail to the Community, May 2008
From the Urban Institute and funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, this publication provides information on the Jail House Reentry Roundtable Initiative. Specifically, this report provides a synthesis of best practices from the Initiative from the past two years, which included a Jail Reentry Roundtable and two national advisory meetings, a "scan of practice," and interviews with stakeholders from around the country.
To view or download: Click Here
The Jail Administrators’ Toolkit for Reentry, May 2008
From the Urban Institute, this resource is a toolkit for reentering prisoners into society. Specifically, this toolkit focuses on all types of inmates that are faced with the challenges of reentry, regardless of jail time. Information in this toolkit was developed from jail administrators, correction and law enforcement professionals, county and community leaders, and service providers.
For more information, please see: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411661_toolkit_for_reentry.pdf
Broken Bonds: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children with Incarcerated Parents, February 2008
This resource is authored by the Urban Institute and provides an overview of current research on children with incarcerated parents. In the United States, 1.5 million children have one or both parents that are incarcerated. Authors offer recommendations on reducing the negative impact for children, which includes building supportive relationships with the parent and other adults.
For more information, please see: http://urban.org/UploadedPDF/411616_incarcerated_parents.pdf
Just Out: Early Lessons from the Ready4Work Prisoner Reentry Initiative, February 2008
The Ready4Work initiative is jointly funded through the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL ETA), the U.S. Department of Justice, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation. This is a guide that was authored through Public/Private Ventures and examines the early implementation of Ready4Work and reports on the best emerging practices in four key program areas. Last year, around 650,000 adults were released from prisons in the United States. Therefore, engaging reentering individuals into the workforce is particularly important for States and counties.
For more information, please see: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/198_publication.pdf
Transitional Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Early Impacts from a Random Assignment Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Prisoner Reentry Program, November 2007
This resource is from MDRC and offers early assessment from an evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities’ (CEO) Prisoner Reentry Program. Each year, more than 650,000 people leave prison, and often face barriers to finding gainful employment opportunities. The CEO program is unique in that it provides transitional jobs for ex-offenders. Through the evaluation, ex-offenders were referred to the program through parole officers and randomly assigned to the CEO program or basic job search assistance.
For more information, please see: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/468/overview.pdf
Program Focus - Keeping Incarcerated Mothers and Their Daughters Together: Girls Scouts Beyond Bars
Authored by Marilyn C. Moses. This resource is a Program Focus brief sponsored by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
To view or download: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/girlsct.pdf [PDF - 144 KB]
Program Focus - The Women's Prison Association: Supporting Women Offenders and Their Families
Authored by Catherine Conly. This resource is a Program Focus brief sponsored by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
To view or download: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/172858.pdf [DF - 474 KB]
Resources for Mother-Child Community Corrections
Authored by Mary K. Shilton. This resource was developed by the Mother-Child Community Corrections Project and was supported by a cooperative agreement awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
To view or download: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/bja/190352.pdf [PDF - 687 KB]
Marriage
Effects of Employment on Marriage: Evidence from a Randomized Study of the Job Corps Program, June 2009
From the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, this report provides an overview of an experimental evaluation of the Job Corps program. Specifically, researchers explore the effects of employment-related outcomes on the likelihood of marriage. The evaluation showed that an increase in employment and earnings via the Job Corps program increases the likelihood of marriage for young women with economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/build_fam/reports/employ_marr/employ_marr.pdf
ACF Marriage Curriculum Assessment Guide, December 2008
The goal of this Marriage Education Curriculum Assessment Guide, from the Administration for Children and Families, is to help organizations select a curriculum that is most appropriate for the couples and individuals of the target population. The process of completing the Curriculum Assessment Guide can aid organizations to effectively review and compare marriage education materials. The Guide offers a practical and easy-to-use review and assessment process.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc
The Promise and Challenge of Using Volunteers to Provide Community-Based Marriage Education, December 2008
This report was done through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative has been very successful in promoting marriage education across the State, and in enlisting volunteers in local communities. This brief focuses on how the OMI recruited and mobilized a volunteer workforce and highlights the role of large, regional one-day community events in introducing and stimulating interest in relationship skills workshops.
For more information, please see: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=/PDFs/OMI_promise_brief.pdf
Piloting a Community Approach to Healthy Marriage Initiatives in Three Sites: Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts and Jacksonville, Florida, August 2008
This report is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation and is an evaluation of the Community Healthy Marriage Initiative. It focuses on the implementation of three projects funded through section 1115 grants from ACF’s Office of Child Support Enforcement. The report examines three different approaches to implementing a healthy marriage initiative and describes how various organizations leverage their strengths and abilities to implement their programs. The report includes demographic data on each of the program participants and if they are receiving TANF benefits.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/eval_com/reports/three_sites/three_sites.pdf
Implementation of 'Within My Reach:' Providing a Relationship Awareness and Communications Skills Program to TANF Recipients in Oklahoma, July 2008
Authored by Anne Sparks at Ohio University, this National Poverty Center Working Paper outlines the implementation of the ‘Within My Reach’ Curriculum in Oklahoma. The program is included in a week of orientation activities for new TANF participants at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. This paper provides results from interviews with TANF participants who participated in the program and findings suggest that this program has been successful in promoting relationship skills among this population.
For more information, please see: http://npc.umich.edu/publications/u/working_paper08-11.pdf
Healthy Marriages & Healthy Relationships: Longitudinal Qualitative Assessment, June 2008
Researchers at Bowling Green State University presented on healthy marriages and healthy relationships at the Eleventh Annual Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference that is sponsored through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. The qualitative assessment focused on what healthy marriage participants think about marriage or relationships and why they attend classes as well as key lessons that are learned from these classes.
Download PowerPoint [PDF - 345 KB]
African American Healthy Marriage Initiative Newsletter: Issue 5, May 2008
This is the Spring 2008 newsletter of the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative (AAHMI), and offers up-to-date information on the Initiative. This newsletter provides information on recent events through AAHMI, as well as news from around the Nation and the ACF Regional Offices on promoting healthy marriage.
Oklahoma Marriage Initiative: A Process Evaluation, May 2008
This is the process evaluation of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative (OMI), which was sponsored through the Assistant Secretary for Planning, Research, and Evaluation. The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative is the longest and most comprehensive marriage program in the country, and this report shows the extent to which the OMI has reached vulnerable families. Specifically, around five to ten percent of Oklahoma families have participated in OMI workshops, and every county in the State has been reached.
For more information, please see: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=pdfs/OMI_fnlrprt.pdf
Promises They Can Keep: Low-Income Women’s Attitudes toward Motherhood, Marriage, and Divorce, May 2008
This presentation was given at the Eleventh Annual Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. Researchers presented on a qualitative study of low-income mothers on their attitudes and preferences. Strong evidence was found that in low-income neighborhoods, little stigma is attached to bearing a child outside of marriage. Additionally, there was almost no evidence that low-income mothers fear divorce as a reason to not marry.
Download PowerPoint [PDF - 330 KB]
Implementation of the Building Strong Families Program, January 2008
This report was published as part of the Building Strong Families (BSF) project that is through the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BSF is a large-scale demonstration of marriage relationship education programs for low-income, romantically involved, unmarried couples who are expecting or recently had a child. This report offers initial key findings from seven program sites on the program’s design and development.
An Economic Framework and Selected Proposals for Demonstrations Aimed At Strengthening Marriage, Employment, and Family Functioning Outcomes, December 2007
This study was conducted through the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, and provides information on the connection between marriage, employment, and family functioning to best serve families. Authors offer recommendations and strategies for improving policy for disadvantaged populations and people at risk of poverty.
The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative: An Overview of the Longest-Running Statewide Marriage Initiative in the U.S., December 2006
The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative: An Overview of the Longest-Running Statewide Marriage Initiative in the U.S., December 2006 From the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, this research brief provides an overview of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. Since 1999, Oklahoma's Initiative has been in place and successful due to the large public and private collaboration in the State. This brief is the first in a series to define promising strategies from Oklahoma.
To view or download: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/oklahomamarriagebrief.pdf
Effects of Marriage on Family Economic Well-Being, a report sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
A four-paper series. These papers examine the economic returns to marriage, include a literature review, and review new empirical findings using three different data sets and a variety of statistical models.
For more information, please see: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/marriage-well-being03/index.htm
HEALTHYMARRIAGEINFO.ORG
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with five universities and Child Trends of Washington, D.C., announced the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (NHMRC) website. The website provides states, Indian tribes and other grantees with technical assistance, and provides resources to the general public to help build and sustain healthy marriages.
To view the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center website, go to: http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/
More Research Needed to Put Marriage Policies on Track, a newsletter from the Research Forum
This article is presented in the January 2004 version of "The Forum," a newsletter from the Research Forum, sponsored by the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) as part of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
To view or download: http://www.researchforum.org/media/forum71.pdf [PDF - 85 KB]
Out-of-Wedlock & Teen Pregnancy
Parent Power: What Parents Need to Know and Do to Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy authored this article for parents and stakeholders who work with teen parents. It provides useful information on parental influence on teenagers and gives suggestions for parents to delay sexual activity among their teenagers.
To view or download: http://www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/reading/pdf/ParentPowerEnglish.pdf [PDF - 374 KB]
Fatherhood
Working Dads: Final Report on the Fathers at Work Initiative, October 2009
Non-custodial dads play an important role in financial and emotional well-being for children. Public/Private Ventures conducted an evaluation of the Fathers at Work demonstration that is funded through the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The demonstration was designed to help low-income non-custodial fathers increase their employment and earnings. Six community-based organizations across the country delivered the program and findings suggest that the program improved the lives of participants by increasing earnings and the ability to pay child support.
For more information, please see: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/310_publication.pdf
Strengthening Families Through Stronger Fathers Initiative: Lessons from the First Year of the Evaluation, June 2009
The Strengthening Families Through Stronger Fathers Initiative was enacted in June 2006, in the State of New York. The Initiative authorized the implementation of two innovative approaches to help low-income noncustodial parents to work and pay their child support in full. This report is the first in an ongoing evaluation of the program and describes the pilot programs initiated as well as lessons learned from implementation.
For more information, please see: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411870_strengtheningfamilies.pdf
The One Hundred Billion Dollar Man: The Annual Public Costs of Father Absence, August 2008
This study, which was done through the National Fatherhood Initiative, provides an estimate of the taxpayer costs of father absence. Fatherhood absence has increased from 8 percent of children in single-mother households in 1960 to 34 percent in 2008. Researchers estimate the cost of father absence to the federal government to support father-absent homes equated to around $99.8 billion dollars in Fiscal Year 2006. One of the largest fatherhood absence expenses is TANF at around $15 billion.
For more information, please see: http://www.fatherhood.org/downloadable_files/FatherAbsenceCost.pdf
More About the Dads: Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Welfare Case Outcomes, June 2008
From the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this report provides data on the importance of father involvement within the lives of children. Researchers analyze case outcomes for children within the child welfare system in relation to nonresident fatherhood involvement.
For more information, please see: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/MoreAboutDads/report.pdf
“What Works” in Fatherhood Programs? Ten Lessons from Evidence-Based Practice, March 2008
This issue brief is from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and provides an overview of “what works” in fatherhood programs. Researchers outline evaluation procedures for such programs, as only rigorous evaluations of programs can provide evidence of whether programs have the positive outcomes for families. This issue brief outlines ten lessons learned from evaluated fatherhood programs.
Download Document [PDF - 145 KB]
The National Evaluation of the Responsible Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Re-entering Fathers and Their Partners, March 2008
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation commissioned this report, which describes the Responsible Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Re-entering Fathers and their Partners (MFS-IP). Authors provide an overview of the implementation and impact evaluation of this initiative.
For more information, please see: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/MFS-IP/rb.pdf
The National Evaluation of the Responsible Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Re-entering Fathers and Their Partners, March 2008
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation commissioned this report, which describes the Responsible Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Re-entering Fathers and their Partners (MFS-IP). Authors provide an overview of the implementation and impact evaluation of this initiative on families around the country.
For more information, please see: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/MFS-IP/rb.pdf
Ten Key Findings from Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives, February 2008
As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, responsible fatherhood programs have emerged to support low-income families achieve self-sufficiency and support improved outcomes for children. From the Urban Institute, this resource provides information and lessons learned from early fatherhood initiatives implemented in the 1990s and early 2000s.
For more information, please see: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411623_fatherhood_initiatives.pdf
10 Things States Can Do to Help Low-Income Fathers, 2007
This information is from the National Conference of State Legislatures and provides a list of ten things that States can do to help low-income fathers. Tips include facilitating programmatic support for fathers and using employment as a catalyst to get fathers involved with programs.
For more information, please see: http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/welfare/10things.htm
Family Structure, Father Closeness, and Drug Abuse: A Report from the National Fatherhood Initiative
This paper reviews the effects of family structure on adolescent drug use. It found that in nearly all cases, family structure was a statistically significant predictor drug use. Additionally, the results prove the importance of fatherhood, because when mother closeness and family structure are controlled, father closeness is statistically significant in affecting adolescent drug use.
To view or download: http://www.fatherhood.org/doclibrary/drugabuse.pdf [PDF - 1127 KB]