Teaching Self-Sufficiency:
An Impact and Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Home Visitation and Life Skills Education Program
Findings from the Rural Welfare-to-Work Strategies Demonstration Evaluation
Final Report

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TITLE PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

BNF IMPACTS FOR HARD-TO-EMPLOY WELFARE RECIPIENTS: KEY FINDINGS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

   WELFARE-TO-WORK IN RURAL NEBRASKA: BUILDING NEBRASKA FAMILIES

   TESTING INTENSIVE SERVICES FOR HARD-TO-EMPLOY TANF RECIPIENTS

   EVALUATION DESIGN AND METHODS

   Implementation and Cost Study

   Impact Study

   Benefit-Cost Study

   SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS

2. THE IMPLEMENTATION, CONTEXT, AND COSTS OF BUILDING NEBRASKA FAMILIES

   PROGRAM MODEL AND SERVICE DELIVERY METHODS

   THE BNF TARGET POPULATION AND RESEARCH SAMPLE

   RURAL NEBRASKA: POLICY, ECONOMIC, AND SERVICE CONTEXT

   KEY FINDINGS ON BNF IMPLEMENTATION

   COSTS OF BNF

3. CLIENT EXPERIENCES IN BUILDING NEBRASKA FAMILIES

   BNF SERVICE USE AND PARTICIPATION

   INSIGHTS FROM FOCUS GROUPS

4. IMPACTS ON SERVICE USE

   EDUCATION AND OTHER SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

   MENTORING AND ADVOCACY

   LOGISTICAL SUPPORTS

   DIFFERENCES FOR KEY SUBGROUPS

5. IMPACTS ON EMPLOYMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND WELL-BEING FOR THE FULL BNF SAMPLE

   IMPACTS ON EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS

   CHANGES IN WELFARE DEPENDENCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND WELL-BEING

   IMPACTS ON HARDSHIPS AND SELF-CONCEPT

6. IMPACTS ON EMPLOYMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND WELL-BEING FOR THE MORE DISADVANTAGED CLIENTS AND OTHER SUBGROUPS

   MORE AND LESS DISADVANTAGED SUBGROUPS

   Impacts on Employment and Earnings

   Changes in Welfare Dependence, Self-Sufficiency, and Well-Being

   Impacts on Hardships and Self-Concept

   IMPACTS FOR EARLY AND LATE RANDOM ASSIGNMENT

   IMPACTS FOR OTHER SUBGROUPS

7. COMPARING THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF BUILDING NEBRASKA FAMILIES

   FRAMEWORK FOR THE BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS

   ITEMIZING BENEFITS AND COSTS

   Estimating Dollar Values for Benefits and Costs

   Comparing Benefits and Costs That Occur at Different Times

   Testing Key Assumptions

   MEASURING BENEFITS AND COSTS

   Benefits and Costs of Working

   Benefits and Costs of Child Support and Transfer Programs

   Benefits and Costs from the Use of Alternative Services

   BENCHMARK ESTIMATES

   Projecting Benefits Beyond the Follow-Up Period

   SENSITIVITY ANALYSES

   Results of Sensitivity Tests

8. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS

   SUMMARY OF BNF FINDINGS

   BNF FINDINGS IN CONTEXT

   INTERPRETING THE FINDINGS: THE ROLE OF DISTINCTIVE PROGRAM FEATURES

   IMPLICATIONS AND LESSONS FOR WELFARE-TO-WORK POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

   ISSUES AND LESSONS FOR FUTURE EVALUATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX A: SURVEY DATA COLLECTION AND WEIGHTING METHODS

APPENDIX B: FINDINGS ON EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

APPENDIX C: COMPARISON OF MAIN FINDINGS TO FINDINGS BASED ON SAMPLE OF 18- AND 30-MONTH RESPONDENTS

APPENDIX D: BNF PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT TOOLS

APPENDIX E: SUPPLEMENTAL TABLES FOR FULL SAMPLE IMPACTS

APPENDIX F: SUPPLEMENTAL TABLES FOR SUBGROUP IMPACTS