Overview

The Front-Line Management and Practice Study examined TANF implementation at the local level, and is a component of the larger SUNY-Albany State Capacity study, which is a 20-State implementation analysis. The principal objective of the Front-Line Management and Practice Study was to evaluate whether front-line workers are implementing the welfare goals and policies established by the States. Locally based researchers conducted in-depth observations in three local offices from each of four States. Sites were selected from one county/city. A criterion for site selection gave primary emphasis to work and job-preparation, thus enabling the researchers to make caparisons among management practices that aim to affect the same sort of policy outcomes. Some sites were chosen because they use traditional rule-based management and others because they rely on performance-based management.

The major research questions include: (1) What are the welfare service delivery practices and culture in local welfare offices and how do they vary from one office to another? (2) How do State and local management systems influence local welfare service practices and culture? (3) Are some management systems more effective than others in influencing front-line caseworkers to implement welfare programs in a manner consistent with the States' goals/policies? (4) How do performance-based management systems affect welfare service delivery and how do they differ from management systems relying solely on rules and regulations? (5) Does the type of organization (public, private for- or not-for-profit) affect the delivery of welfare programs?

Using the local TANF office as the unit of analysis, researchers are executing an in-depth process/implementation study relying on observable variables such as: assessment processes, allocation of client services; allocation of paid and unpaid work; enforcement of work-related polices; delivery of information; orientation of individual worker practice; office level practices; and implicit messages or signals.

The project period is 10/1/97-12/31/04 and the point of contact is Michael Dubinsky. Ask a Question.