Employment Retention and Advancement Project Early Results: Chicago, South Carolina, Riverside CA, Texas

2005

This report presents early evidence on the effectiveness of four diverse programs designed to help current or former welfare recipients work more steadily and increase their earnings. The programs are part of the Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) project, which is testing 15 such programs nationwide. At this point, MDRC has followed the groups for one year, and this report presents early results from four of the sites: • Chicago, Illinois. This program aims to help participants increase their earnings; it targets welfare recipients who are working steadily but earning too little to leave the rolls. • Riverside, California. This program is testing two strategies for encouraging employed welfare recipients to use education or training as a route to advancement. • Pee Dee Region, South Carolina. This program targets former welfare recipients in six rural counties and offers services to help participants work more steadily and move to higher-paying jobs. • Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas. This program targets welfare recipients who are seeking work; it uses financial incentives and other services to help participants find jobs, stay employed, and increase their earnings.

July 16, 2017
Case Management, Education, Employment Retention Services, Financial Incentives or Sanctions, Job Development Job Placement, Training, Work Readiness Activities