Nina Lalich

State TANF Policies and Employment Outcomes among Welfare Leavers

This study examines the extent to which employment outcomes for welfare leavers differ depending on TANF policies adopted by states. Data on welfare leavers come from the 1996 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Policies in the leavers’ states of residence are characterized by factor scores. Results suggest that employment and job quality outcomes for welfare leavers are associated with several aspects of states’ TANF rules. For example, the stringency of work requirements is positively related to employment among later welfare leavers, but neither the leniency nor stringency of work requirements is related to employment among early welfare leavers. Lenient work requirements are found to increase the probability that welfare leavers’ first jobs off welfare carry employer‐provided health insurance.

Taking it to scale: Evaluating the scope and reach of a community-wide initiative on early childhood

In implementing broad community initiatives, the ability to assess the delivery of services is a distinct challenge. Yet, understanding both the magnitude and cross-usage of services by target populations is often a precursor to effective program evaluation, program improvement and additional program planning. This research examines the extent to which a comprehensive early childhood initiative successfully reached young children and their families in a large urban county. By linking birth records and administrative datasets at the level of the individual child, the study tracks the experiences of children in respect to engagement in program services and their receipt of public benefits. The study shows both the rapid growth in programs and the reach of the program elements to the majority of newborns in the target county after 5.5 years. The research highlights the challenges of effectively using individual-level data from a variety of sources for the purposes of documenting program receipt by participants.

Addressing the Early Childhood Mental Health Needs of Young Children: Evaluating Child and Family Outcomes

ABSTRACT. The prevalence of serious emotional and behavioral concerns in early childhood is estimated to be in the range of 9% to 14% of the general population (Brauner & Stephens, 2006) and as high as 24% among low-income children (Brown, Copeland, Sucharew, & Kahn, 2012). Unfortunately, mental health concerns among young children often go unidentified and untreated (Breitenstein, Hill, & Gross, 2009). As longer-term research has illustrated the impact of untreated mental health issues in early childhood on later health, social-emotional functioning, and academic success (Zero to Three, 2012), intervention with families facing such concerns offer opportunities to positively impact the trajectory of these issues. Using data from a longitudinal, pre–post design, this secondary analysis examines the delivery (n = 808) and outcomes (n = 664) of child- and family-centered early childhood mental health (ECMH) services delivered in home by 6 agencies. Although ECMH treatment models differed across sites, parents reported significant reductions in childrens internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and service providers noted significant improvements in parent–child relationship functioning over time, particularly for children with a relationship disorder. Future research using a rigorous experimental design is needed to confirm these preliminary findings. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of this work for practice, research, and policy.

Assessing the Deployment of Home Visiting: Learning from a State-Wide Survey of Home Visiting Programs

Objectives Large-scale planning for health and human services programming is required to inform effective public policy as well as deliver services to meet community needs. The present study demonstrates the value of collecting data directly from deliverers of home visiting programs across a state. This study was conducted in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires states to conduct a needs assessment of home visiting programs for pregnant women and young children to receive federal funding. In this paper, we provide a descriptive analysis of a needs assessment of home visiting programs in Ohio. Methods All programs in the state that met the federal definition of home visiting were included in this study. Program staff completed a web-based survey with open- and close-ended questions covering program management, content, goals, and characteristics of the families served. Results Consistent with the research literature, program representatives reported great diversity with regard to program management, reach, eligibility, goals, content, and services delivered, yet consistently conveyed great need for home visiting services across the state. Conclusions Results demonstrate quantitative and qualitative assessments of need have direct implications for public policy. Given the lack of consistency highlighted in Ohio, other states are encouraged to conduct a similar needs assessment to facilitate cross-program and cross-state comparisons. Data could be used to outline a capacity-building and technical assistance agenda to ensure states can effectively meet the need for home visiting in their state.