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ARKANSAS
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Evaluation of Arkansas' Transitional Employment Program Sixth Bi-Annual Report |
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Date of Report: |
October 2000 (web address not available) |
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Methodology: |
Survey of families who have left welfare-333 completed surveys out of 400 randomly selected former recipients. (83% Response Rate) |
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Study Timeframe: |
Examines families who left welfare between 1/99 to 3/99. Surveys were completed 14 - 19 months after exit |
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Investigator (Contact): |
Berkeley Policy Associates (Rebecca London) |
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Study Objective: |
Survey of families after leaving welfare to determine their employment, and well-being |
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Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
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Percent employed at time of interview |
52% |
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Average hourly wage of those employed |
$6.99 |
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Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid (children) at time of interview |
66%/72% |
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Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
N/A |
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Percent returning to cash assistance by time of interview |
23% |
Employment & Income
- Mean household income of all leavers was $870 per month. 23% earned less than $250 per month and 31% earned over $1,000 per month.
- 37% of full-time workers earn over $300 per week.
- 82% of respondents had worked since leaving welfare, but only 52% were working at the time of the interview.
- 60% of working adults travel to work in their own vehicle and 22% ride with a relative or friend.
- 31% of employed leavers report their jobs provide paid sick leave, 61% have paid vacation leave and 48% of their employers offer a health plan.
- 31% of respondents did not have a high school diploma or GED, including 8% who had not gone past the 8th grade. Only 1.2% had a four-year degree and 15% had some college.
- The most frequently cited barrier to getting a job was lack of transportation (42%), followed by mental health/emotional stress (28%), lack of child care (26%) and physical health (22%).
- 79% had incomes below the poverty line.
Other Supports
- 40% of the children under 5 in child care arrangements were in day care centers, 24% were cared for by relatives in their home and 24% were cared for by relatives in another home. A non-relative cared for 8%. Of families using child care, 35% reported receiving a subsidy.
- While Medicaid or the ARKids First program covered 72% of children, only 30% of adults were covered. 56% of adults had no health insurance, compared to 19% of children.
- 55% of families reported receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- 18% reported receiving child support, a mean amount of $214. An additional 19% had a child support order but received no payment.
Family Well-being
- 23% of families reported having their utilities cut off for not paying the bill, about the same percentage who experienced this while on welfare.
- 21% reported not getting needed medical care because of the cost, compared to 12% on welfare.
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