1. 1 Women’s Employment Study Overview Longitudinal study of white non-Hispanic and African American women who received TANF (single parent case) in February 1997 Sample drawn from one urban Michigan county. Response rates: 1997 – 86% (753 women) 1998 – 93% (693 women) 1999 – 91% (632 women) 2001 – 91% (577 women) 2003 – 93% (536 women) No evidence that attrition bias is a problem.

2. 2 Highlights of overall findings Welfare to work progress in this study mirrors that found in welfare studies across the nation Employment has increased Welfare reliance has plummeted Poverty rates have fallen but remain high Proportion of families who have neither work nor welfare is small but growing

3. 3 The Transition from Welfare to Work, 1997-2003 Fall 1997Fall 2003 % Currently employed62.763.3 If employed… Median monthly earnings (in 2003$)$688$1080 Median hours worked (all jobs)3440 % Received TANF last month74.820.9 % Poor last month57.241.8 Mean % of months worked, 1997 - 200369.4 Mean % of months received TANF31.2

4. 4 Barriers are prevalent & persistent- Prevalence and persistence of five problems

5. 5 (34.2%)(34.0%)(24.9%)(7.0%) N=503

6. 6 (34.2%)(34.0%)(24.9%)(7.0%) N=503

7. 7 What factors differentiate families who had longer stays on FIP rolls? Families who accumulated 40 or more months of receipt in a 60-month period (compared to those with shorter duration of receipt) had significantly: lower education, 43% of the longer term recipients had less than high school degree (compared to 25% of those with less FIP receipt) persistent health problems, 18% of long term recipients (vs. 9% of others) low literacy, 28% (vs. 16% of others) persistent child health problems, 14% (vs. 4%)

8. 8 Policy Implications Recipients moved into work at record levels, especially prior to 2001 However, there is less of this movement among women with multiple barriers to employment Many states and counties are concerned that the high barrier, multi-problem family may be a larger proportion of the current caseload than in the earlier stages of welfare reform

9. 9 Implications (continued) Innovations for welfare recipients and low income working mothers should provide supports beyond job search and placement. Services are needed for: Assessment and referral for maternal and child health and mental health problems. Programs such as supported work or transitional jobs for people with high barriers and/or low skills, modeled on programs for the disabled. Participation in services and work experience could count as meeting participation requirements and not count against time limits, because the activity is building employment credentials and capacities.