Child Support

Submitted to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Report Prepared by: Pamela Loprest and Austin Nichols The Urban Institute

This brief describes a range of strategies states have implemented to achieve higher Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work participation rates. It describes four broad categories of strategies: (1) creating new work opportunities for TANF recipients; (2) administrative strategies; (3) TANF policy changes; and (4) creation of new programs.

This practice brief profiles three work experience programs that engage nearly all work-ready TANF recipients in unpaid work activities, either alone or in conjunction with education and training. Unpaid work experience is designed to mirror regular employment in the paid labor market.

This practice brief profiles three programs, two statewide and one local, that provide work opportunities to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients who are participating in vocational education programs.

This practice brief profiles two strategies, one statewide and one local, for analyzing, reporting, and using data to hold case managers and administrators accountable for increasing the work participation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients.

This report analyzes whether former TANF recipients who lose their jobs apply for and receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and it describes the role of UI in TANF leavers' well-being and the types of employment deficits that might prevent their access to UI.

Final Report March 2008 Submitted by: Christopher J. O'Leary and Kenneth J. Kline W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Contents Definitions Findings Implications