Rebecca A. London

The effect of incremental benefit levels on births to AFDC recipients

We examine the relationship between fertility and incremental AFDC benefits using the 1990 Panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Estimating a logit equation for the probability of a higher-order birth among a sample of AFDC recipients, we find a positive coefficient (although statistically insignificant) on the incremental AFDC benefit level. However, we find a positive correlation between incremental benefits and fertility for several nonrecipient comparison groups which is larger than the positive correlation for AFDC recipients. This finding suggests that the previously estimated relationship between incremental benefits and fertility among AFDC recipients is largely the result of a spurious correlation. We find similar results among whites, blacks, and never-married women, but less consistent results among Hispanics and divorced or separated women. We infer from these results that family cap policies, which eliminate the incremental benefits entitled to AFDC recipients who have additional children, are not likely to result in a large reduction in the number of out-of-wedlock births to AFDC recipients.

Trends in single mothers’ living arrangements from 1970 to 1995: Correcting the Current Population Survey

I examine trends in single mothers’ living arrangements using data from the 1970–1995 Current Population Surveys. I create a consistent trend by correcting a coding problem that stemmed from the misidentification of children living in multigenerational households before 1984. Revised estimates show that the number of single mothers in each of these years was undercounted by 200,000–300,000. All of these women were subfamily heads living with their parents, and the problem occurred disproportionately among teens and black women. The uncorrected trend falsely indicates a large increase in the share of single mothers living with their parents. In reality, there was little change in the percentage of single mothers living in this arrangement over the time period. However, the data indicate a large increase in the rate of cohabitation and a comparable decline in the rate of living independently among this population.

The Effects of Home Computers on Educational Outcomes: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Community College Students

There is no clear theoretical prediction regarding whether home computers are an important input in the educational production function. To investigate the hypothesis that access to a home computer affects educational outcomes, we conduct the first-ever field experiment involving the provision of free computers to students for home use. Financial aid students attending a large community college in Northern California were randomly selected to receive free computers and were followed for two years. Although estimates for a few measures are imprecise and cannot rule out zero effects, we find some evidence that the treatment group achieved better educational outcomes than the control group. The estimated effects, however, are not large. We also provide some evidence that students initially living farther from campus benefit more from the free computers than students living closer to campus. Home computers appear to improve students’ computer skills and may increase the use of computers at non-traditional times. The estimated effects of home computers on educational outcomes from the experiment are smaller than the positive estimates reported in previous studies. Using matched CPS data, we find estimates of educational effects that are considerably larger than the experimental estimates.

The Role of Postsecondary Education in Welfare Recipients' Paths to Self-Sufficiency

Todays welfare system does not encourage postsecondary education, focusing instead on immediate employment. The loss of postsecondary education as a route out of poverty may be detrimental to some women. College graduation is associated with lower rates of recidivism and post-welfare poverty than attendance without graduation or no attendance.

The Role of Community Technology Centers in Promoting Youth Development

Recent data suggest that the digital divide between White and minority youth persists, particularly in terms of home access to computers and the Internet. Community technology centers (CTCs) are an important alterative access point, especially for low-income youth of color. Such institutions, however, do much more, providing not just access, but general youth development, including the opportunity for youth to voice their stories, contribute to community-building, and expand networks. The authors use qualitative data collected at five CTCs nationwide to examine the ways that youth engage in CTCs and link these activities to a youth development framework.The authors draw lessons for future CTC practice, highlighting the importance of both bonding and bridging social capital in thinking through future programming.

Reinventing the Role of the University Researcher

This study examines the structuring of university–community research partnerships that facilitate theoretically grounded research while also generating findings that community partners find actionable. We analyze one partnership that positions university-based researchers as members of a team working to create, maintain, and use a longitudinal multiagency data source. Through our focus on the evolution of this university–community collaboration, we show how researchers established their commitment to a mutually beneficial exchange and how data-driven action emerged when community agencies assumed ownership and prioritized action throughout the research process.

Afterschool Program Participation, Youth Physical Fitness, and Overweight

BACKGROUND Fighting childhood obesity has become a key policy focus. The role of community-based interventions to promote physical activity is an important part of an overall strategy to increase physical activity for youth. PURPOSE This study examines whether community-based afterschool physical activity programs lead to improved youth fitness and lower obesity rates. METHODS Individually linked, longitudinal administrative data were used from local afterschool programs and two school districts in one California community to follow 1105 students from the 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 school years. Models were estimated in 2009-2010 using linear probability regressions and robust SEs, controlling for individual, family, and school characteristics, including fitness and overweight status prior to program participation. RESULTS One third (36%) of the students participated in fitness-focused afterschool programs. Controlling for baseline fitness status, participating in fitness-focused afterschool programs was associated with a 10% increase in the probability of being physically fit after 2 years. This finding held for nearly all subgroups, including students who were initially unfit. Participation in 2 years of the program was associated with a 14.7% increased likelihood of subsequent fitness compared to 8.8% for 1 year of participation. Participation in other types of afterschool programs was not associated with fitness improvements. There were no effects of participation in either type of program on overweight status. CONCLUSIONS These findings point to the promise of relying on existing community resources in the fight against childhood obesity. Fitness-focused afterschool programs will need to ensure that the highest-risk children--including those who are Latino and low-income--are served.

The dynamics of health insurance coverage: identifying trigger events for insurance loss and gain

By linking consecutive years of the 1996–2004 Current Population Survey (CPS), we create new estimates of annual transitions into and out of health insurance coverage. Using the matched CPS panel data, we explore the dynamic factors—including job loss, changes in hours or weeks worked, and movement between firm sizes—associated with health insurance loss and gain. Job loss is strongly associated with losing insurance, whereas becoming reemployed is only weakly associated with gaining insurance. Movement down (up) in employment size is associated with insurance loss (gain), but movement to employers with fewer than 10 employees is associated with especially high rates of loss. Changes in hours or weeks worked and employment type are also strongly associated with insurance transitions.

Who is at Risk of Losing and Gaining Health Insurance

In this study, we examine annual transitions into and out of health insurance coverage using matched data from the 1996 to 2004 Current Population Survey (CPS). We find evidence of several characteristics that are strongly associated with the likelihood of losing or gaining health insurance including race, education, unemployment, part-time employment status, employment size, and self-employment.

Data Infrastructure and Secondary to Postsecondary Tracking

In this article, we discuss the use of administrative data from schools, colleges and universities, and other public and private agencies and organizations for tracking students through their educational pathways. We focus on existing data collection systems that can be used to study successful postsecondary education transitions, including both statewide and local initiatives. We describe in detail the Youth Data Archive, which combines administrative data from multiple public and private agencies and organizations on a local level to ask and answer community questions about the youth they serve.