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

• Able Bodied Adults Report**

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We will continue to update this page as more publications are available.