
Study design
Design:
Study group formation:
Time period of study:
Primary outcome domains examined:
Increase short-term earnings, Increase long-term earnings, Increase short-term employment, Increase long-term employment, Decrease short-term benefit receipt, Decrease long-term benefit receiptOther outcome domains examined:
Physical health, Mental healthStudy funded by:
Results
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Outcome domain | Measure | Timing | Study quality by finding | Comparison group mean | Intervention group mean | Impact | Units | Findings | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Increase short-term earnings | Annual earnings | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
2,905.00 | 2,992.00 | 87.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Increase short-term earnings | Total earnings, follow-up period | Quarters 1-6 |
High ![]() |
9,381.00 | 8,831.00 | -550.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
520 |
Increase long-term earnings | Monthly earnings | Month 30 |
High ![]() |
525.00 | 598.00 | 73.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
525 |
Increase long-term earnings | Quarterly earnings | Quarter 14 |
High ![]() |
833.00 | 935.00 | 102.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Increase short-term employment | Continuously employed, follow-up period | Months 1-18 |
High ![]() |
19.90 | 17.50 | -2.40 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Increase short-term employment | Currently employed | 18 months |
High ![]() |
55.10 | 56.10 | 1.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
533 |
Increase short-term employment | Ever employed, quarterly | Quarter 6 |
High ![]() |
36.00 | 36.00 | 0.00 | percentage points |
![]() ![]() |
630 |
Increase long-term employment | Continuously employed, follow-up period | Months 1-30 |
High ![]() |
14.00 | 10.00 | -4.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Increase long-term employment | Currently employed | 30 months |
High ![]() |
53.20 | 61.80 | 8.60 | percentage points |
![]() |
533 |
Increase long-term employment | Currently employed | Quarter 14 |
High ![]() |
32.00 | 35.00 | 3.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
630 |
Increase long-term employment | Months employed, follow-up period | Months 1-30 |
High ![]() |
15.50 | 15.80 | 0.30 | months |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Average monthly amount of Food Stamps received, Year 1 | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
179.00 | 185.00 | 6.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Average monthly amount of TANF received, Year 1 | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
30.00 | 33.00 | 3.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of Food Stamps in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
71.50 | 75.60 | 4.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of General Assistance in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
2.30 | 2.70 | 0.40 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of other public assistance in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
1.40 | 1.30 | -0.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of Social Security in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
6.40 | 3.70 | -2.70 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of SSI or SSDI in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
13.30 | 13.80 | 0.50 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of TANF in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
13.10 | 14.30 | 1.20 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of unemployment insurance in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
4.80 | 5.90 | 1.10 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Receipt of WIC in previous month | 18 months |
High ![]() |
28.00 | 29.60 | 1.60 | percentage points |
![]() |
520 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Received AFDC/TANF, annual | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
26.10 | 30.50 | 4.40 | percentage points |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease short-term benefit receipt | Received Food Stamps/SNAP, annual | Year 1 |
High ![]() |
92.20 | 95.40 | 3.20 | percentage points |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of SSI received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
70.00 | 53.00 | -17.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of WIC received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
15.00 | 13.00 | -2.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of Food Stamps received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
181.00 | 204.00 | 23.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of foster care received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
3.00 | 1.00 | -2.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of General Assistance received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
4.00 | 1.00 | -3.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of Social Security received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
26.00 | 17.00 | -9.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of TANF received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
37.00 | 31.00 | -6.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Amount of unemployment insurance received in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
23.00 | 7.00 | -16.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Average monthly amount of food stamps received, Year 3 | Year 3 |
High ![]() |
151.00 | 159.00 | 8.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Average monthly amount of TANF received, Year 3 | Year 3 |
High ![]() |
22.00 | 17.00 | -5.00 | 2003 dollars |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received AFDC/TANF, annual | Year 3 |
High ![]() |
14.70 | 10.70 | -4.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received Food Stamps public assistance in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
67.20 | 73.40 | 6.20 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received Food Stamps/SNAP, annual | Year 3 |
High ![]() |
69.50 | 71.80 | 2.30 | percentage points |
![]() |
630 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received other public assistance in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
1.80 | 1.10 | -0.70 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received Social Security in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
5.60 | 3.80 | -1.80 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received SSI or SSDI in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
14.40 | 11.40 | -3.00 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received TANF in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
13.00 | 11.40 | -1.60 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received unemployment insurance in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
4.50 | 2.00 | -2.50 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
Decrease long-term benefit receipt | Received WIC in previous month | 30 months |
High ![]() |
24.30 | 25.20 | 0.90 | percentage points |
![]() |
536 |
High
Moderate
The findings quality describe our confidence that a given study’s finding is because of the intervention. We do not display findings that rate low.
A moderate-to-large favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large favorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that might be due to chance
A favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A favorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that might be due to chance
An unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
An unfavorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size or direction
A finding of no effect that might be due to chance
Sample characteristics
On average, sample members were 30 years old. Three-quarters were female. Fifty percent were Black and non-Hispanic, 46 percent were White and non-Hispanic, and 5 percent were Hispanic or another race or ethnicity. Slightly more than one-quarter of sample members did not have a high school diploma or GED, whereas 31 percent had more than a high school diploma or GED. At baseline, 18 percent were working for pay. A large majority (87 percent) reported earnings less than $10,000 in the year before baseline. More than half (56 percent) of sample members had received TANF or Aid to Families with Dependent Children at some point in their lives, and 15 percent were receiving it at the time of baseline. More than half (56 percent) were living in single-adult households.
Age
Mean age | 30 years |
Sex
Female | 77% |
Male | 23% |
Participant race and ethnicity
Black or African American | 50% |
White, not Hispanic | 46% |
Another race | 1% |
Hispanic or Latino of any race | 3% |
The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.
Family status
Married | 18% |
Parents | 71% |
Participant employment and public benefit status
Were employed | 18% |
Were eligible for or receiving cash assistance | 15% |
Were long-term cash assistance recipients | 23% |
Participant education
Had some postsecondary education | 31% |
Had a high school diploma or GED | 73% |
Did not have a high school diploma or GED | 27% |
Intervention implementation
Implementing organization:
Program history:
Intervention services:
Mandatory services:
Comparison services:
Service receipt duration:
Intervention funding:
Cost information:
These figures are based on cost information reported by study authors. The Pathways Clearinghouse converted that information to a single amount expressed in 2018 dollars; for details, see the FAQ. This information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
Study publications
Meckstroth, Alicia, Andrew Burwick, Michael Ponza, Shawn Marsh, Timothy Novak, Shannon Phillips, Nuria Diaz-Tena, and Judy Ng (2006). Paths to work in rural places: Key findings and lessons from the impact evaluation of the Future Steps Rural Welfare-to-Work program, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/paths_to_work.pdf.
Meckstroth, Alicia, Ann Person, Quinn Moore, Andrew Burwick, Andrew McGuirk, Michael Ponza, Shawn Marsh, Timothy Novak, Zhanyun Zhao, and Justin Wheeler (2008). Testing case management in a rural context: An impact analysis of the Illinois Future Steps program: Findings from the Rural Welfare-to-Work Strategies Demonstration evaluation, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/testing_case.pdf.
View the glossary for more information about these and other terms used on this page.
The Pathways Clearinghouse refers to interventions by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some intervention names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.
915-Future Steps: Study