Evaluation of the Colorado Works Program, Third Annual Report, Caseload Trends, Employment Outcomes and Post-Exit Services

COLORADO

Evaluation of the Colorado Works Program, Third Annual Report, Caseload Trends, Employment Outcomes and Post-Exit Support Services
Date of Report:	November 2001 (http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/audit_dir/2002/2002perf/1260Pt2.pdf)
Methodology:	Administrative data of families who exited in the 1^st quarter of 1997 through the first quarter of 2001.
Study Timeframe:	Study compares outcomes for those who left welfare between 1997 and 2001.
Investigator (Contact):	Berkeley Policy Associates (Vince Valvano, 510-465-7884)
Study Objective:	Evaluation of program operations, caseload trends and recipient outcomes.

Comparable State Findings:	Former Recipients
Percent employed 4^th quarter after exit	53%
Mean/Median hourly wage of those employed	N/A
Percent receiving Food Stamps 12 months after exit	34%
Percent who say life is "better" after welfare	N/A
Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit (among 2000 leavers)	18%

Employment & Income

56% of those who left welfare in state fiscal year 2000 were employed the 1^st quarter after exit, up from 53% of fiscal year 1998 leavers.
32% of leavers were employed in all four quarters after exit.
During the 2 years following exit, only 20% of the 1998 leavers were employed in all 8 quarters.
The median earnings among employed 2000 leavers were $2,793 in the 4^th quarter after exit, up from $2,520 for 1998 leavers.
Median earnings for employed leavers increased by 14% - 18% between 1^st and 4^th quarters after exit.
74% of leavers that filed income taxes received the state earned income tax credit for tax year 2000.

Other Supports

Although most leavers were eligible for food stamps after exit, less than 4% received them for the full 12 months after leaving cash assistance (based on those who left 1^st quarter 2000).
More than half of leavers received food stamps for 6 months or less after exit (based on those who left 1^st quarter 2000).
Medicaid receipt increased over time for families leaving welfare. The number of adults enrolled within 2 months of exit increased from 60% 2^nd quarter 2000 to 77% 4^th quarter 2000. Similarly, the number of children enrolled within 2 months of the family's exit increased from 68% 1^st quarter 2000 to 83% 1^st quarter 2001.
On average, 13% of 1997 and 1998 leavers were using child care subsidies 12 months after exit. An average of 26% of these leavers had relied on subsidies at any point within the first 12 months after case closure.

Family Well-Being

Among those who left welfare in 1997 and 1998, more than 50% of leavers who worked continuously had earnings above the poverty level (compared to less than 20% of those who did not work continuously).
The use of continuing support services is helpful in lifting families above the poverty level. Among those who left welfare between 1997 and 1999, only 38% of single parents had an income above the poverty level. Once child care assistance, food stamps and state and federal earned income tax credits were figured in, 59% of single parents had an income above the poverty level (for tax year 2000).