Welfare to Work

Between 1998 and 2003, BOI conducted a multi-faceted evaluation of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation’s Microenterprise Welfare to Work demonstration. The demonstration examined whether, and under what circumstances, self-employment could be a route to self-sufficiency for recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Ten organizations received support from the Mott Foundation to provide tailored self-employment services to TANF recipients. FIELD’s evaluation of the demonstration included a longitudinal survey of more than 600 individuals who were served, and also documented information on the program strategies used to provide services to these individuals. In addition, the Center for Law and Social Policy conducted research documenting policy frameworks in the states where the demonstration sites were located and examined how policy implementation affected the experiences and outcomes of study participants.