Service Integration
RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS
This section provides resources related to service integration issues such as culture change, agency coordination and One-Stop Centers.
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General Topic
Minnesota Integrated Services Project: Voices of Program Participants, April 2008
The Urban Institute authored this report on the Minnesota Integrated Services Projects (ISP), which was designed to support TANF recipients in the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) provided grants to sites around the State to improve outcomes for families by increasing access to comprehensive services that address multiple needs.
For more information, please see: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411643_minnesota_integrated_services.pdf
An Economic Framework and Selected Proposals for Demonstrations Aimed At Strengthening Marriage, Employment, and Family Functioning Outcomes, December 2007
This study was conducted through the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, and provides information on the connection between marriage, employment, and family functioning to best serve families. Authors offer recommendations and strategies for improving policy for disadvantaged populations and people at risk of poverty.
Vulnerable Infants and Toddlers in Four Service Systems, September 2007
This brief from the Urban Institute reviews four key service systems that serve vulnerable families with young children: Early Head Start; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; the child welfare system; and the Part C Early Intervention Program. Authors review data on the demographics of infants and toddlers served by these programs.
For more information, please see: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411554_four_service_system.pdf
How Have Asset Policies for Cash Welfare and Food Stamps Changed since the 1990s?, June 2007
This resource from the Urban Institute provides information on asset building among low-income families. Because welfare benefits and food stamps are means tested, assets and income must fall below set limits for families to qualify. This ensures that benefits go to the most needy families; however, asset limits can also discourage asset building for low-income families. Authors review how assets, such as education, a home, a car, or an individual development account (IDA), can be exempted.
For more information, please see: http://urban.org/UploadedPDF/311494_Asset_Policies.pdf
Child Welfare Services Involvement: Findings from the Milwaukee TANF Applicant Study, August 2006
This article, from the Chapin Hall Center for Children and the University of Chicago, reviews how welfare reform can affect child welfare services involvement among welfare-recipient families. Reviewing data from Wisconsin, authors measure child welfare involvement among TANF applicants, and found that TANF applicants were more likely to become involved in child welfare services than expected.
For more information, please see: http://www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1339
Improving State Coordination of Youth Workforce Development Services, August 2006
This guide provides information for community leaders in improving the coordination of youth workforce development programs. Such efforts to promote youth workforce development can help youth to successfully transition into adulthood by helping youth attain the skills, knowledge, and aptitudes to become productive workers.
For more information, please see: http://www.financeproject.org/publications/RN-state-coordination.pdf
Early Implementation of the Minnesota Integrated Services Project, April 2006
Because many welfare recipients reaching time limits face barriers to employment, Minnesota implemented the Minnesota Integrated Service Project (ISP). This project aims at improving service delivery to clients who would benefit from multiple systems working together to address their needs. From the Urban Institute, this article reviews the implementation of integrating services to improve outcomes for low-income families in Minnesota.
For more information, please see: http://urban.org/UploadedPDF/411330_minnesota_isp.pdf
Culture Change
Strategies for Overcoming Resistance to Change: Opportunities in Organizational Change, January 2008
This resource is from the Families In Society’s “Practice and Policy Focus.” Authors provide an overview of strategies for overcoming resistance to change in organizations. In order to implement an outcome management system, plans must be in place based on realistic expectations of the organization as well as aligned with its goals.
For more information, please see: http://www.familiesinsociety.org/new/Newsletter/issue01_08.pdf
Agency Coordination
ACF, OFA Tri-Regional TANF Child Care Forum, September 2008
In keeping with the goal of engaging all families and improving employment and self-sufficiency outcomes as well as the goal of increasing collaboration between the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Regions IV, VI and VIII, held a Tri-Regional Technical Assistance Forum, September 23-25, 2008, in Dallas. The theme of the 3-day Forum was titled, “The Power of Partnership.” The forum, in plenary sessions, addressed the interface issues of both programs. Separately, State TANF Directors and members of their staffs learned about strategies and new resources to help refine implementation of the provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
Download Final Report [PDF - 331 KB]
Creating TANF and Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Partnerships: Assisting TANF Recipients Living with Disabilities to Obtain and Maintain Employment, February 2008
This research report is from Mathematica Policy Research, and provides information on how TANF agencies can partner with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs to serve TANF recipients with disabilities. Authors offer information on how these agencies can create a formal partnership to help TANF recipients access VR services, and also provide advice on how challenges to partnering can be overcome.
For more information, please see: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=pdfs/creatingtanf.pdf
The Child Indicator Newsletter, June 2007
Published through Child Trends, this newsletter includes information from the National Survey of Children’s Health, which provides state-level data on children’s health and wellbeing. Additionally, authors provide information on new data tools and resources on child welfare.
For more information, please see: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2007_06_21_CISummer.pdf
Creating Safety and Stability for Children Exposed to Family Violence: a Working Paper for Family to Family Sites, October 2006
Child abuse and domestic violence often co-occur in families, and such data has led child welfare programs to re-evaluate service delivery protocols for families. This article reviews Family to Family Grantee experiences and offers guidance on how to better serve families in the child welfare system facing domestic violence issues as well.
For more information, please see: http://www.f2f.ca.gov/res/FVPFCreatingSafety.pdf
One-Stop Centers
Workforce Investment Act: Employers Found One-Stop Centers Useful in Hiring Low-Skilled Workers; Performance Information Could Help Gauge Employer Involvement, December 2006
This report from the Government Accountability Office seeks to measure the success of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in terms of helping low-income workers find jobs in a streamlined manner as well as engaging employers in the process. In 2005, GAO found that half of local employers knew about services provided at local one-stop centers. This report examines the extent to which employers utilize local one-stop centers and if these services are useful to employers.
For more information, please see: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07167.pdf