Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies

Objectives: The objectives of Welfare Research (WR) are to support research, evaluation, and technical assistance related to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This includes research on the effect of State TANF programs on employment, child well-being, unmarried births, marriage, poverty, economic mobility, and other factors; State-initiated research on TANF ; technical assistance to States in developing and evaluating innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of families with low incomes; and development of a “what works clearinghouse” of approaches for moving welfare recipients into work. The objectives of the National Research Center on Poverty and Economic Mobility are to fund projects and programs designed to improve the effectiveness of public policies that reduce poverty, inequality, and their consequences, promote economic mobility and equity, and further develop knowledge of the structural causes of poverty, inequality, and economic insecurity. The objectives of the Center for Research on Hispanic Children and Families are to lead and support research on the needs of Hispanic populations served by ACF and on promising approaches to promote social and economic well-being among low-income Hispanic families. The objectives of the National African American Child and Family Research Center are to lead and support research on the assets, needs, and experiences of African American families and children served by ACF programs, and on promising approaches to address economic and social inequities and, ultimately, promote social and economic well-being among low-income African American families. The objectives of the Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network Grants are to support research on strategies for improving family self-sufficiency conducted by social science scholars in partnership with state or local human services agencies. The objectives of the Career Pathways Secondary Data Analysis Grants are to support rigorous research through secondary data analysis on questions relevant to the effectiveness of services funded by TANF programs that aim to address the employment and self-sufficiency needs of TANF recipients and those eligible for or at risk of TANF receipt, with career pathways programs being one such service. The objectives of the Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Development Grants are to support the planning for and execution of evaluation-related activities by organizations looking to strengthen and evaluate coordinated, client-centered approaches to improving economic self-sufficiency among TANF and TANF-eligible families. The objectives of the Tribal Research Center on Early Childhood Development and Systems are to support community-based participatory research and evaluation of ACF early childhood and family economic well-being initiatives that serve tribal communities. The objectives of the Baby's First Years Qualitative Substudy are to understand how unconditional cash gifts to low-income mothers and their children affects families' lives.