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Assisting TANF Recipients with Disabilities to Find and Keep Jobs

The nation's welfare system is focused on engaging all TANF recipients in federally defined work activities to prepare for and find competitive employment. For some TANF recipients, the pathway to work is encumbered with undiagnosed and untreated disabilities that interfere with steady program participation and work. Mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and physical health problems are among the most prevalent disabilities documented, accounting for a substantial portion of the TANF caseload. While the majority of these recipients eventually may be able to find and sustain employment, they may need more specialized assistance and take more time to do so.

Mathematica conducted a study of state and local efforts to promote employment among TANF recipients living with a disability. There were two objectives: (1) to provide TANF administrators with information on strategies they could consider implementing to help TANF recipients living with a disability reach their full employment potential; and (2) to identify potential opportunities to advance our understanding, using rigorous evaluations, of the most effective strategies for helping TANF recipients living with a disability find and sustain paid employment.

This descriptive study included a process and implementation analysis in nine sites using qualitative case study methods. Sites were selected to represent innovative strategies for employing TANF recipients living with disabilities. 

Findings were summarized in four practice briefs that provide important information on program design and implementation. Program administrators can use these briefs to craft strategies that take into account their program goals and unique features of their TANF caseload. We also compiled a final report describing each of the case study programs and research design options for rigorously evaluating them.

Publications

“Conducting In-Depth Assessments” Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment (February 2008)
“Creating Work Opportunities” Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment (February 2008)
“Providing Specialized Personal and Work Support” Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment (February 2008)
“Creating TANF and Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Partnerships” Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment (February 2008)
“Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment” (February 2008)