Saturday, 15 January 2005 - 12:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Poster Session II

Evaluation of a Community-based Case Management Program for Welfare-to-Work Recipients with Significant Barriers to Employment

Purpose: Evaluate effectiveness of a community-based case management program which addresses the needs of welfare-to-work recipients who have significant barriers to employment. Identify baseline and process variables that impact client outcomes. This program addresses a subset of the TANF population, and is funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Methods: The program was evaluated with quantitative analysis of administrative data consisting of baseline variables (demographic information, time on TANF, number of sanctions, barriers to work assessment), process variables (case manager contacts, case manager services, case manager referrals for other services, length of time in case management program) and the primary outcome variable, achievement of DSS contract terms (operationalized as the following: barriers resolved, linked with other services, pursued medical exemption, compliant with employment plan, re-instated post-sanctioning). The sample consisted of 82 clients who started the program after July 1, 2003 and completed the program by December 31, 2003.

Results: Of the 82 cases in this phase of the evaluation project, 63% (52) fulfilled the contract terms at time of closing. Clients participated in the program for an average of 8.4 weeks, ranging from 1 to 23 weeks. Case managers provided extensive outreach to clients by phone (an average of 6.3 times) and in person (an average of 3.5 times). There were no significant differences in outcome based on demographic variables. 70% of those clients who were in the program for more than 1 month (N=64) fulfilled contract terms, compared with 41% of the clients who were in the program one month or less (N=17) (chi-square(1, N=81) = 4.961, p=.026). There was a trend in client outcome based on amount of time clients have been on TANF. A chi square test was utilized and significant differences were found when the confidence level was set at 90% (chi square(1, N=81) = 3.506, p=.061). 74% of those clients who were on TANF for 18 or more months (N=42) fulfilled contract terms compared with 54% of those who were on TANF for less than 18 months (N=39). The case manager activities were examined to identify any differences in outcomes or between various groups. The average number of successful and unsuccessful primary service manager contacts for those receiving TANF 18 months or more (N=37) was 11.08 compared with 5.87 contacts for those receiving TANF less than 18 months (N=31) (t (56.247)=-2.661, two-tailed p=.01).

Implications: This study identified one baseline (time on TANF) and one process variable (time in program) that impacted client outcome. It appears that clients have more successful outcomes if they engage and remain in the program for more than 1 month. The findings underscore the importance of outreach and engagement activities (which are a core component of this case management program) with this subset of the TANF population that face greater difficulties transitioning to work. Further research with larger samples is needed to test the generalizability of these results.

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