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TEXAS
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Texas Families in Transition - The Impacts of Welfare Reform in Texas: Early Findings |
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Date of Report: |
December 1998 (http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/about/initiatives/texasfamilies/survey.pdf) |
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Methodology: |
Telephone and mail survey. 1,159 telephone interviews were conducted and 237 follow-up mail questionnaires were completed. 688 respondents left TANF while the rest were diverted from TANF. (42% Response Rate) |
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Study Timeframe: |
Respondents that left TANF between December 1997 and May 1998 were interviewed approximately six to nine months after exit. |
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Investigator (Contact): |
Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University
(Department of Human Services, Executive Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Project Management (512) 438-0446) |
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Study Objective: |
Determine what has happened to those that have left TANF including employment experiences, use of support services, and services necessary to become self-sufficient. |
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Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
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Percent employed at time of interview |
59% |
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Mean hourly wage of those employed |
$6.35 |
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Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid at time of interview |
68% / 74% |
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Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
N/A |
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Percent receiving cash assistance by May 1998 |
28% |
Employment & Income
- 76% of TANF leavers reported that they had been employed at some point during the follow-up period (December 1997 to May 1998). The average hours worked per week was 34.
- The most common jobs were restaurant/fast food (15%), retail and sales (14%), clerical (13%), nursing (11%), and janitorial (7%).
- The most commonly needed resources to getting or keeping a job were a GED (34%), work clothes (23%), transportation (23%), child care (21%), health care for adult (17%), health care for child (12%), and job skills (14%).
Other Supports
- 42% of employed leavers reported that they were offered health insurance through their current job.
- 33% of TANF leavers received WIC.
- 20% of leavers lived in public housing.
- 16% reported that they had received child support.
- 10% received help from a food pantry, church, or other community service group.
- 29% received some type of help from relatives.
Family Well-Being
- 32% of leavers reported having a mentor who inspired them or motivated them. A mentor could have been a family member, friend, co-worker, individual from churches or community service groups, or DHS employees. The majority (70%) were family members.
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