Work First Program Evaluation

In August 1997 the North Carolina General Assembly passed welfare reform into state law. Part of the Work First statute is the requirement that there be an independent evaluation of the Work First Program. MAXIMUS, Inc. was awarded the contract for this evaluation after an open bidding process, and began work on the evaluation of the Work First Program. The evaluation is comprised of telephone surveys conducted over time with families who have left Work First, and analyses of administrative data available through the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The evaluation of Work First is continuing with MAXIMUS, Inc. following families through the longitudinal database, and through a continuing survey of families in both Standard and Electing Counties. These reports contain information on the first families to leave Work First Family Assistance because of the 24 month time limit in August 1998, on families who received Benefit Diversion payments instead of ongoing cash assistance, and on families who left Work First for any reason.

As further reports from the Evaluation of Work First are available, they will be published here on the website.

The following reports are now available:

Study of Child Only Cases in the Work First Program - December 2002

Executive Summary 
Chapter One- Introduction
Chapter Two- Demographics and Other Characteristics
Chapter Three- Status and Well-Being of the Children
Chapter Four- Well-Being and Hardships Among Parents and Caretakers
Chapter Five- Use of Community Resources and Programs


Statewide Study of Families Leaving Workfirst- December 2002

Executive Summary
Chapter One- Introduction
Chapter Two-Overall Welfare and Employment Status
Chapter Three- Employment and Earnings Among Persons Still Off Welfare
Chapter Four- Child Support, Income, and Benefits
Chapter Five- Indicators fo Family Well-Being
Chapter Six- Child Care, Transportation, and Services
Chapter Seven- Profile of Respondents Back on Welfare

Analysis of Administrative Data on Welfare Recipients under the Work First Program-January 2000

Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight


Study of Families Receiving Diversion Assistance Payment

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter One
Chapter Two


Study of Familes Leaving Work First In Selected Counties- May 2000

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight

Study of Familes Leaving Work First Due to Time Limits- February 2000

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three

Work First Experiences Report**

June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008