Interim Report to Congress
Assets for Independence Demonstration Program
Status at the Conclusion of the Third and Fourth Years
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Introduction |
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THIS REPORT PROVIDES an update for Congress on the status of the Assets for Independence (AFI) Program as of September 2002 (the end of the program’s third year) and September 2003 (the end of the fourth year). The report includes this volume which presents narrative information and a brief analysis. Two companion volumes present statistical information. This volume is organized as follows:
- Section 1 provides an overview of the AFI program, describes the scope of this report, and discusses the research methodology and data sources.
- Section 2 presents information about grantee organizations that implemented projects in the program’s third and fourth years. It presents facts about the types of organizations, their locations, and funding levels.
- Section 3 presents more details about characteristics of the AFI projects and their participants. It provides a synopsis and analysis of the seven information categories as required in the authorizing legislation.
Volume 2 – Project Data at the Conclusion of the Third Year presents information provided by the grantees for the period between their project start date and September 30, 2002, and Volume 3 – Project Data at the Conclusion of the Fourth Year contains information provided by the grantees for the period ending September 30, 2003.
The Assets for Independence Act stipulates that all grantee organizations that manage AFI projects are to submit annual progress reports to the Secretary. The Secretary, in turn, is to analyze the grantee reports, compile the findings, and provide an annual update for Congress setting forth the overall status of the program and highlighting emerging issues and findings.
These updates are in addition to other data being developed through the OCS-supported national AFI Program evaluation. Information being developed through the national evaluation includes, for example, detailed descriptions of strategies AFI grantees are using to implement the projects, analyses of common challenges faced by grantees and project participants, highlights of good practices, and suggestions for improving performance. The evaluation is also producing knowledge about the impact of IDA accounts on project participants. Initial findings and several mid-course reports developed for the national evaluation are posted on the OCS AFI Program website.
The Department submitted the first update to Congress with information about the results of the first year of operation in 2002. It transmitted the second update with the status as of the end of the second year in March 2003. This document presents information about the status of the program as of the end of its third year and fourth year of implementation. It serves as the third and fourth updates for Congress.
