Strategies for Engaging Adults in Welfare-to-Work Activities

The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 reauthorized the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program through 2010 and expanded work participation standards by putting increased pressure on states to meet stricter work participation rate requirements. If states fail to meet these requirements or make adequate progress, they will face potentially severe federal fiscal sanctions. This analysis presents the major findings from a literature review on engagement strategies for the welfare-to-work population, with implications for meeting participation requirements and helping families achieve self-sufficiency from a program perspective. Major findings of this review include an effective combination of the labor force attachment (LFA) and the human capital development (HCD) approaches, program models, and participant- and organization-focused strategies.