Applying Behavioral Science to Improve Participation in Work-Readiness Activities: Washington State

The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency-Next Generation (BIAS-NG) project aims to make human services programs work better for the people receiving services by reshaping program processes using lessons from behavioral science. The BIAS-NG team worked with the Department of Social and Health Services to design and test an intervention aimed at increasing engagement in work activities among clients who were approved to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report investigates whether providing staff materials and training to improve client engagement in selecting a work activity and support clients in developing a purposeful and realistic plan to attend an orientation meeting can increase clients’ engagement in TANF work activities.