Mathematica Policy Research

Advancing the Well-Being and Self-Sufficiency of At-Risk Youth

Communications — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:29:34 GMT

A new report presents a conceptual framework for efforts to prepare at-risk youth for healthy adult functioning and self-sufficiency. Produced as part of the Youth Demonstration Development project for the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, the framework explains how we can build our knowledge about what works for at-risk youth, by implementing and testing research-informed interventions to promote youth’s resilience and human capital. An issue brief summarizes the framework.

Connecting At-Risk Youth to Promising Occupations

Communications — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:18:30 GMT

This brief provides information for programs and organizations that serve at-risk youth transitioning to adulthood. Part of the Administration for Children and Families’ Youth Demonstration Development issue brief series, it explores occupations in health care and construction that hold promise for a quick path to employment without extensive up-front education or training.

Integrating Family Support Services into Schools: Lessons from the Elev8 Initiative

Communications — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:22:02 GMT

As part of a national initiative called Elev8, Atlantic Philanthropies provided funds to community organizations to work with five Chicago schools to provide a wide range of programs and economic services to families. A multi-year evaluation of the initiative found a small group of parents who used the economic support services felt that they helped improve their family’s financial well-being. However, difficulties coordinating efforts between schools and community organizations as well as parents’ concerns about sharing their private information within the school setting limited the program’s integration into the schools and parent participation in the services offered.

Using Systematic Reviews to Inform Policy Initiatives: Lessons from the HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review

Communications — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:05:20 GMT

In fall 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a systematic review of the research literature on programs to prevent teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors. Findings have been used to inform two new federal policy initiatives aimed at supporting evidence-based approaches to teen pregnancy prevention. This research brief highlights six key lessons from the review, intended to help the growing number of organizations and federal agencies considering similar policy-driven reviews.

The Economic Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

Communications — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:09:21 GMT

The brief describes the characteristics and economic well-being of young people aging out of foster care who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). It also compares their economic self-sufficiency with that of their heterosexual peers also aging out of care. The analysis uses data from the Midwest Study of Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth, a longitudinal study that followed a sample of young people from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin as they transitioned out of foster care and into adulthood.

Making a Plan and Sticking to It: Implementing an Enhanced Version of HealthTeacher in Chicago

Communications — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:41:00 GMT

This report presents findings from a study of the implementation of an enhanced version of HealthTeacher, an online health education curriculum, in Chicago Public Schools in 2011. Teachers of 7th-grade students implemented the family health and sexuality module of HealthTeacher in nine schools. The study found that, despite some challenges, the curriculum was a good fit for Chicago Public Schools and was implemented with high fidelity.

Building Strong Families Final Report

Communications — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:08:47 GMT

Mathematica recently completed the three year evaluation of Building Strong Families, a voluntary relationship skills program for unwed couples who are expecting or have just had a baby. The study found the program had no effect on the quality of couples’ relationships and did not make them more likely to stay together or get married.Technical Supplement. Executive Summary.

The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

Communications — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:07:54 GMT

This article in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (subscription required) examines the impacts of Building Strong Families, a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program serving unmarried parents who were expecting or had recently had a baby. Using a random assignment design, the analysis uses survey data from more than 4,700 couples across eight research sites to estimate program effects. Results varied across sites, with one site having a pattern of positive effects and another having numerous negative effects. However, when impacts are averaged across all research sites, the program had no overall effects on couples' relationship quality or the likelihood that they remained together or got married.

The Dynamics of Women Disconnected from Employment and Welfare

Communications — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:09:17 GMT

This article in Social Service Review analyzes factors associated with transitions into and out of being disconnected from the labor market, welfare, and other substantial financial supports. Work history, human capital, policy environment, and economic conditions are most strongly associated with the dynamics of disconnected status.

The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

Communications — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:28:10 GMT

This article in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management examines the impacts of Building Strong Families, a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program serving unmarried parents who were expecting or had recently had a baby. Results varied across sites, with one site having a pattern of positive effects (but no effect on marriage) and another having numerous negative effects. However, when impacts are averaged across all sites, findings indicate that the program had no overall effects on couples' relationship quality or the likelihood that they remained together or got married.

The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

Communications — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:27:18 GMT

New Mathematica Projects Strengthen Focus on Fatherhood and Family Support Programs

Communications — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:46:09 GMT

To help ensure that family policy is supported by evidence, Mathematica is building on work in healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood interventions, family support, and teen pregnancy prevention with several new studies. Our family support experts are evaluating programs aimed at strengthening fatherhood and families and preventing teen pregnancy. These studies will provide objective analysis of the programs and assess their effectiveness in giving low-income couples and teens the tools they need to nurture and sustain healthy relationships that benefit themselves, their families, and the greater community.

Synthesis of Research and Resources to Support At-Risk Youth

Communications — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:49:30 GMT

This report for the Youth Demonstration Development Project highlights what is known broadly about the needs, circumstances, and outcomes for at-risk youth; theoretical perspectives and intervention approaches to serve them, including risk/resilience and capital development frameworks; and the Administration for Children and Families' programs that serve at-risk youth. The report also discusses implications of the research for the development of a conceptual framework for serving at-risk youth.

Laws Requiring Parental Involvement to Obtain Abortion and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Minors

Communications — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:41:31 GMT

A report and associated issue brief evaluate whether policies requiring parental involvement in minors' decision to obtain an abortion can alter their sexual behavior and help reduce the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among teens. Using data from the STI surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia, the findings offer little evidence of a link between parental involvement laws and teen STI rates.

Catalog of Research: Programs for Low-Income Fathers

Communications — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:20:21 GMT

This review provides summaries of impact, implementation, and descriptive studies that have examined responsible fatherhood and related family strengthening programs that target and serve low-income fathers.

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Anti-Poverty Programs in the United States

Communications — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:33:09 GMT

This paper assesses the effectiveness of means-tested and social insurance programs in the United States. The U.S. benefit system has a major impact on poverty rates, reducing the percentage of the poor in 2004 from 29 to 13.5 percent. The system reduces poverty the most for persons with disabilities and the elderly and least for several groups among the nonelderly and nondisabled. While there are significant behavioral side effects of many programs, their aggregate impact is very small and does not affect the magnitude of the aggregate poverty impact of the system.

Family Support Experts to Present at June ACF/OPRE Welfare Research Conference

Communications — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:55:12 GMT

Mathematica's family support experts to present at ACF/OPRE Welfare Research & Evaluation Conference, June 1-3 in Washington, D.C.

Devaney to Speak on Oklahoma’s Building Strong Families Project

Communications — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:19:01 GMT

Senior vice president Barbara Devaney will speak on Oklahoma’s Building Strong Families Project at the Oklahoma Practice and Policy Lecture Series.

Exploratory Study of Decision-Making in Low-Income Couples

Communications — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:19:40 GMT

A new report and issue brief focus on the role of partners and spouses in the decision-making processes of social service clients. Using survey data, direct observation of couple interactions, and physiological measurement, findings suggest that the decisions of individuals receivin

Initial Implementation of a Couples-Focused Employment Program

Communications — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:58:26 GMT

This study evaluates the initial implementation of the Couples Employment (CE) project in Baltimore, Maryland, a voluntary intervention to simultaneously address employment, financial literacy, and relationship issues, to capitalize on the ways that success in each might affect the other. Initial experiences highlighted the importance of defining a program model integrating family stability and economic success; identifying a strong program director; achieving an appropriate staff mix; and maintaining a focus on couples.

Webcast of Fragile Families Event Presentation Available

Communications — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:40:19 GMT

A webcast of senior fellow Rob Wood's presentation at the Brookings Institution's Fragile Families Event is now available.

Relationship Skills Education and Child Support: Evidence from a Program Partnership in Texas

Communications — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:36:17 GMT

This report evaluates the impact of a partnership between the relationship education program Building Strong Families, and the Child Support Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General, on child support orders, child support payments, and father involvement.

Evaluation Exemplar: The Critical Importance of Stakeholder Relations in a National, Experimental Abstinence Education Evaluation

Communications — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:37:10 GMT

This piece describes Mathematica’s abstinence education evaluation, provides interviews with the evaluation’s two lead authors, Christopher Trenholm and Barbara Devaney, and offers reflections on the study.

December 2 Webinar on Systematic Review of Programs to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Communications — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:44:56 GMT

Join us for a webinar on the systematic evidence review being conducted by Mathematica under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to identify programs effective at reducing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors.

Streamlining California Public Services and Health Enrollment

Communications — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:40:19 GMT

This report, which examines social service enrollment reforms in FL, PA, TX, and WA, informs the state of California and stakeholders as they consider changes in the enrollment process for public health and social services programs. Read the release.

Changes in Capacity Among Local Coordinated Community Response Coalitions (CCRs) Supported by the DELTA Program

Communications — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:22:05 GMT

Using survey data collected from coordinated community responses (CCRs), which are community coalitions funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancements and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) Program, this article reports on improvements in internal capacity and external supports that affect ability to prevent intimate partner violence.

15-Month Impacts of Oklahoma's Family Expectations Program

Communications — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:29:47 GMT

This report presents findings from an analysis of the implementation of Family Expectations, one of the programs examined in our Building Strong Families study, and a rigorous evaluation of program impacts on couple and family outcomes after enrollment for 15 months.

What Predicts Sex Partners' Age Differences Among African American Youth? A Longitudinal Study from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Communications — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:31:53 GMT

Using growth curve modeling, this study describes the shape of the age difference between participants and their sex partners across adolescence and young adulthood in a sample of African American youth, by evaluating the co-occurrence of other risk behaviors.

Building Strong Families Project Short Term Impact Reports

Communications — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:34:30 GMT

These reports for the Building Strong Families (BSF) project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, provide short-term impact results and review the study design and implementation.

"Strengthening Unmarried Parents’ Relationships: The Early Impacts of Building Strong Families.” This report provides impacts on couples about 15 months after they applied for the program. Executive Summary.

"Implementation of Eight Programs to Strengthen Unmarried Parent Families." This report documents the design and implementation of the eight BSF programs, reports on program services, analyzes characteristics of couples and programs, and describes experiences of couples in the program.

"Strengthening Unmarried Parents’ Relationships: The Early Impacts of Building Strong Families: Technical Supplement." This technical supplement provides add

Relationship Education for Unmarried Couples with Children: Parental Responses to the Building Strong Families Project

Communications — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:35:07 GMT

An implementation study of the Building Strong Families (BSF) programs indicates that many unmarried couples are interested in services to strengthen their relationships around the time of their child’s birth. More than 5,000 couples volunteered for the BSF study across eight states. Although couples report learning from and valuing the program, they also have many life challenges, and practitioners must be proactive in supporting ongoing participation.

Promising Antipoverty Strategies for Families

Communications — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:29:11 GMT

This paper reviews family structure, its relationship to employment, and the recession’s impact on poor families. To reduce poverty, the report proposes policies that help parents balance work and caretaking, and support their children.

What Do We Know About the Link Between Marriage and Health?

Communications — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:25:59 GMT

This special journal issue presents nine new studies on the relationship between marriage and health among African Americans. It discusses health disparities between African Americans and other racial and ethnic groups, offers an overview of African American marriage rates, and presents evidence for the marriage-health link in this population.

Fostering Effective Grassroots Partnerships: Lessons from Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Communications — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:14:53 GMT

A new issue brief highlights themes and recommendations from recent Mathematica studies of faith-based and community initiatives. The Faith-Based and Community Initiative established in 2001 and the Charitable Choice provisions of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act brought new attention and controversy to the role of faith-based organizations in providing social services to Americans. The brief explores how social service organizations and faith-based and secular groups might work together moving forward.

Mathematica to Evaluate Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches: Eight-Year Study Examines Programs to Reduce Teen Risk Behaviors

Communications — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:24:30 GMT

Adolescent sexual activity and its consequences remain a troubling issue in the United States. After a steady decline since the early 1990s, the teen birth rate has begun to climb since 2006. Mathematica Policy Research has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, to conduct the Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches. This eight-year random assignment evaluation is documenting evidence on effective ways to reduce teen nonmarital sexual activity, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Mathematica’s rigorous experimental impact evaluation is testing a range of promising approaches focused primarily on high-school-age youth in up to eight sites and documenting the services they deliver. The study is testing the effectiveness of each program by comparing outcomes with those of a control group in the same site. Mathematica launched a new website to track the evaluation’s progress.
Read the release.

Abstinence Study to Receive AEA 2009 Outstanding Evaluation Award

Communications — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:10:57 GMT

Mathematica's abstinence study team, led by senior economist Christopher Trenholm and senior vice president Barbara Devaney, will receive the 2009 Outstanding Evaluation Award from the American Evaluation Association (AEA) at its annual conference in Orlando on November 13. The AEA cited the congressionally mandated, comprehensive nine-year evaluation of abstinence education programs for its rigor, balance, and impact, which led to major changes in federal policy and funding. The study was downloaded more than 100,000 times and was widely cited in the national and international media. Read the release.