wrec 2014 program bookrecsconference.net/pdf/wrec_program_2014.pdf · wrec |2014 may 28–30, 2014...

WREC|201417th Annual

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OFFICE OF PLANNING, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

May 28–30, 2014 | Grand Hyatt Washington | Washington, DC



Contents

Welcome Letter ................................................................................................. 2

About OPRE ....................................................................................................... 4

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. 7

Detailed Agenda ................................................................................................ 8Wednesday, May 28. ...................................................................................................... 8

Thursday, May 29 ......................................................................................................... 17

Friday, May 30 ............................................................................................................. 26

Track Descriptions ............................................................................................ 32 Track: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) .......................................... 32

Track: Education, Training, and Success in the Labor Market ................................... 35

Track: Child and Youth Well-Being ............................................................................. 38

Track: Fatherhood, Relationships, and Strengthening Families ................................ 41

Track: Evaluating Social Programs: Building and Using Evidence ............................. 44

Track: Approaches to Alleviate Poverty and Strengthen the Safety Net .................. 47

Networking Opportunities ............................................................................... 51

Hotel Information ............................................................................................ 52

Local Restaurant Information ........................................................................... 53

NEW THIS YEAR

All speaker biographies are available online at www.wrconference.net/bios.html (mobile site) and www.wrconference.net/bios.htm (traditional site).

http://www.wrconference.net/bios.html

http://www.wrconference.net/bios.htm

Administration for

Children & Families

370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20447

www.acf.hhs.gov

May 28, 2014

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 17th Annual WREC, sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Each year, this conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to discuss well-being and self-sufficiency among low-income families. The conference presents a valuable opportunity to present and exchange findings and new ideas from the most recent and rigorous research in the field. This year the conference coincides with the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty, offering an opportunity to reflect on efforts to alleviate poverty in the U.S. over the past five decades.

The conference sessions are organized in six thematic tracks:

•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

•Education, Training, and Success in the Labor Market

•Child and Youth Well-Being

•Fatherhood, Relationships, and Strengthening Families

•Evaluating Social Programs: Building and Using Evidence

•Approaches to Alleviate Poverty and Strengthen the Safety Net

These broad tracks are meant to encompass major areas of current research and to help you plan your participation in the conference. Each track is associated with a color to guide you through the program.

The Detailed Agenda provides session descriptions (pages 8 – 31). The Track Descriptions (pages 32 – 50) present a snapshot of conference sessions relevant to each track.

We are pleased to host emerging scholars at the conference. I encourage you to support them by attending the Poster Session on Wednesday, May 28 from 2:45 – 4:00 p.m. in the Independence Foyer. I also encourage the emerging scholars and other conference attendees to attend the Lunchtime Panel Discussion on Careers in Research Related to Poverty, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Social Welfare on Wednesday as well, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in Independence BC. The panel will bring together


2 | Welcome Letter

http://www.acf.hhs.gov



individuals who have experience working in federal and local government, research firms, and academia to discuss their careers, provide insights about career-building, and answer questions.

Several people deserve particular mention for their roles in planning the conference. Our Family Self-Sufficiency Research Technical Working Group members worked closely with Mark Fucello, Hilary Forster, Erica Zielewski, Tiffany McCormack, Jason Despain, Akbar Hossain, Brock McIntosh, and Jacob Wellman of OPRE and Business Strategy Consultants. I thank them all.

This year’s collection of speakers, moderators, and participants reflects a broad diversity of organizations, expertise, and perspectives. In addition to the formal conference sessions, I hope you will also find opportunities for informal exchange of ideas about research, policies, and programs. The wide array of roundtables we have scheduled on Thursday, May 29 will offer an opportunity for informal discussions on topics of interest. Other opportunities for networking during the conference are highlighted at the end of the program book (see page 51).

Again, welcome to the conference. I am glad that you are here, and I look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Naomi Goldstein Director Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation

Welcome Letter | 3

About OPRE

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) studies Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs and target populations through rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-income children and families, research syntheses, and descriptive and exploratory studies. This research is directed to a broad audience, including ACF program offices, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and program providers.

OPRE is comprised of three divisions:

•The Division of Economic Independence focuses on family self-sufficiency and employment and training.

•The Division of Child and Family Development focuses on child care, Head Start, Early Head Start, and child abuse and neglect.

•The Division of Family Strengthening focuses on teen pregnancy prevention, youth development, healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood, family violence, runaway and homeless youth, and early childhood home visiting.

Examples of current and recent studies include:

•Employment-Related Studies and Demonstrations: These studies address a variety of topics, including alternative welfare-to-work strategies and innovations in education and training. Current projects in this area include:

– Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency

– Evaluation of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants

– Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration Project

– Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation

– Employment Strategies for Low-Income Adults Evidence Review

•TANF, the Safety Net, and Family Economic Stability: OPRE is currently funding several descriptive studies to further our knowledge of state TANF programs. Beyond studies of TANF, OPRE seeks to understand how TANF clients access other safety net programs funded by ACF and other federal, state, and local entities. Projects in this area include:

– TANF-Social Security Income Disability Transition Project

– State TANF Policies Database

– Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection from Employment and Assistance

– Understanding the Child-Only TANF Caseload

– Descriptive Analysis of TANF-Workforce Investment Act Coordination


4 | About OPRE

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre



– Descriptive Study of Tribal TANF Programs

– The Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium

– Descriptive Study of County vs. State TANF Administration

•Child Care Projects: These studies investigate the impact of child care subsidy policies and practices on parental employment, children’s development, and the effectiveness of quality-enhancing initiatives. Major projects in this area include:

– Child Care and Early Education Research Connections Project

– Quality Initiatives Research and Evaluation Consortium

– Quality Features, Dosages, and Thresholds and Child Outcomes: Study Design

– Child Care and Development Fund Policies Database

– National Survey of Early Care and Education

•Child Welfare Projects: OPRE is investigating the experiences of children and their families who suffer from, or are at risk of, abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Major projects in this area include:

– National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

– Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect

– Permanency Innovations Initiative Evaluation

– Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program

– Study of Coordination of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services

•Head Start Studies: These studies include the first nationally representative experimental evaluation of the Head Start program, as well as other studies that address children’s experiences and outcomes in Head Start and Early Head Start. Major projects in this area include:

– Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey

– Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences Study

– Head Start CARES (Classroom-based Approaches and Resources for Emotion and Social skill promotion)

– Head Start Impact Study and Follow-up

– Migrant and Seasonal Head Start CARES

– Head Start Health Managers Descriptive Study

– Research Center to Support Secondary Analyses of Head Start Impact Study Data

– Early Head Start University Partnership Grants: Buffering Children from Toxic Stress

– Head Start Leadership, Excellence, and Data Systems

– Understanding School Readiness Goals in Head Start

– Head Start University Partnership Grants: Dual Generation Programs

About OPRE | 5

•Early Childhood Home Visiting Projects: These projects examine early childhood home visiting for pregnant women and families with young children that aim to support positive outcomes for children and families. Major projects in this area include:

– Maternal and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation

– Maternal and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation – Strong Start

– Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness

– Tribal Home Visiting Evaluation Institute

•Strengthening Families Studies: OPRE has a number of projects examining strategies to strengthen families, support healthy relationships, and support father involvement. Major projects in this area include:

– Parents and Children Together Evaluation

– Fatherhood Research and Practice Network

– Ex-Prisoner Reentry Strategies Study

– Proven and Promising Responsible Fatherhood and Family Strengthening Initiatives – Evidence Review

– Building Strong Families

– Supporting Healthy Marriage

– Evaluation of the Community Healthy Marriage Initiative

•Cross-Cutting and Other Research projects include:

– Center on Hispanic Children and Families

– Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency

– Center for Early Care and Education Research: Dual Language Learners

– Youth Demonstration Development Project

– Personal Responsibility Education Program Multi-Component Evaluation

– Assets for Independence Experiment

– Understanding Urban Indians’ Interactions with ACF Programs and Services

– Tribal Early Childhood Research Center

– ACF Research Development Project on the Human Service Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations

– Understanding Early Head Start and Child Care Partnerships


6 | About OPRE



Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals for their participation in the Family Self-Sufficiency Research Technical Working Group. Members of this group have provided invaluable guidance and support throughout the development of this conference. We sincerely

appreciate their time and expertise.

Karla Aguirre, Utah Department of Workforce Services

Todd Bland, California Department of Social Services

Dan Bloom, MDRC

Natasha Cabrera, University of Maryland

Deborah Carroll, District of Columbia Department of Human Services

Alexandra Cawthorne, National Governors Association

Shawn Dove, Open Society Foundations

David Fein, Abt Associates

Rochelle Finzel, National Conference of State Legislatures

Mike Fishman, MEF Associates

David Grusky, Stanford University

Crystal Hall, University of Washington

Jeanette Hercik, ICF International

Levetta Love, Colorado Department of Human Services

Pamela Morris, New York University

David Pate, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Elizabeth Peters, The Urban Institute

Deborah Phillips, Georgetown University

Zakia Redd, Child Trends

Kristin Seefeldt, University of Michigan

Michael Sherraden, Washington University in St. Louis

Timothy Smeeding, University of Wisconsin

Matthew Stagner, Mathematica Policy Research

Ann Huff Stevens, University of California, Davis

Michael Stoll, University of California, Los Angeles

Steve Trejo, University of Texas at Austin

Cynthia Woodside, American Public Human Services Association

Acknowledgments | 7

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Fatherhood, Relationships, and Strengthening Families (Fatherhood & Families)

Education, Training, and Success in the Labor Market (Employment)

Evaluating Social Programs: Building and Using Evidence (Evidence)

Child and Youth Well-Being (Children)

Approaches to Alleviate Poverty and Strengthen the Safety Net (Safety Net)

TRACK KEY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 | 8:30 A.M. TO 5:15 P.M.

TIME EVENT

7:30 a.m. REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK OPEN

Independence Foyer

8:30 a.m. OPENING REMARKS LIVE

Independence Ballroom

Naomi Goldstein (Administration for Children and Families)Mark Greenberg (Administration for Children and Families)

9:00 a.m. Plenary: Exploring Policy Options to Promote Economic Mobility LIVE Independence Ballroom

Recent research shows stalled or declining economic opportunity and upward mobility for today’s families. For low-income families, limited economic opportunity has lasting impacts on their and their children’s overall well-being. This panel discussion, moderated by Jeannie Chaffin (Administration for Children and Families), will address policy levers and approaches to improve economic mobility for low-income families, focusing on programs and populations of interest to ACF. Panelists are:

• Greg Acs (The Urban Institute)

• Aparna Mathur (American Enterprise Institute)

• Ida Rademacher (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

10:30 a.m. BREAK

10:45 a.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

LIVE = Session available via live stream

Detailed Agenda

Email [email protected] to request PowerPoint presentations from the conference.


8 | Detailed Agenda

mailto:wrec%40esi-dc.com?subject=



TANF Employment Children Fatherhood & Families Evidence Safety Net

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 | 8:30 A.M. – 5:15 P.M.

TIME EVENT

10:45 a.m. The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency Project: Applying Behavioral Economics Principles to Child Support Programs LIVE Independence Ballroom

Insights from behavioral economics, which combines findings from psychology and economics, suggest that an improved understanding of human behavior and decision-making could inform program design and improve outcomes. OPRE’s Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project designs and tests behaviorally-informed program innovations for ACF programs. This session will share early findings and lessons learned from BIAS’s work with child support agencies in Texas and Ohio.

• Behavioral Economics and Social Policy: Designing Innovative Solutions for Programs Supported by the Administration for Children and Families

Lashawn Richburg-Hayes (MDRC)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Help Incarcerated Parents Apply for Child Support Order Modifications

Mary Farrell (MEF Associates)Michael Hayes (Texas Office of the Attorney General)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Timely and Regular Child Support Payments

Peter Baird (MDRC)Susan Brown (Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency)

10:45 a.m. Developing Evidence on “What Works” in Moving TANF Recipients to Work through Job Search Independence DE

This session will describe efforts to determine which kinds of job search assistance strategies are most effective in moving TANF recipients to work. It will feature the framework and approach for OPRE’s Job Search Assistance (JSA) Strategies Evaluation, as well as San Diego’s efforts to improve job clubs. The presenters will review past approaches to job search assistance and explore the impact of JSA programs on the type and duration of employment for TANF recipients. Cynthia Woodside (American Public Human Services Association) will moderate this session.

• Job Search Strategies for Helping TANF Recipients Find Employment: Current Practices and Policies

Michelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Overview of the Job Search Assistance Strategies Evaluation

Karin Martinson (Abt Associates)

• Job Club: Applying Executive Function Research to Improve Participant Outcomes

Jill Reynolds (Public Consulting Group)

Detailed Agenda | 9



TIME EVENT

10:45 a.m. Dual Generation Strategies to Support Families Independence FG

Dual generation strategies aim to provide opportunities for and meet the needs of parents and their children together. This session will highlight three projects seeking to demonstrate how these strategies can improve outcomes for both groups: an OPRE-supported study of a sectoral jobs strategy for low-income parents of children served by Head Start and Early Head Start programs; dual generation programming for pregnant and parenting youth in foster care; and work exploring how social capital can move families toward strengthened economic security. Kathleen Dwyer (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Evaluating Tulsa’s Two-Generation CareerAdvance Program: Early Findings

Christopher King (University of Texas at Austin)

• Twice the Opportunity: Strategies to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care and their Children

Lisa Primus (Center for the Study of Social Policy)

• Through a Different Lens: Recognizing and Resourcing Initiative in American Communities

Mia Birdsong (Family Independence Initiative)

10:45 a.m. Participant Experiences in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs Independence BC

This session will focus on why low-income fathers enroll and participate in responsible fatherhood programs, while drawing on fathers’ voices to illustrate findings. Panelists will also discuss the motivation and participant experiences of low-income African American and Latino couples in healthy marriage programs. Anna Solmeyer (Administration for Children and Families/Business Strategies Consultants) will moderate this panel.

• Fathers’ Motivations for Enrolling and Engaging in Responsible Fatherhood Programs

Heather Zaveri (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Perspectives of Low-Income African-American and Latino Couples on Relationship Education

Chrishana Lloyd (MDRC)

• Las Voces del Campo: Voices from the Field of the Hispanic Healthy Marriage Initiative Implementation Evaluation

Allison Hyra (ICF International)



10 | Detailed Agenda






TIME EVENT

10:45 a.m. The Permanency Innovations Initiative: Strategies for Building and Evaluating Interventions Independence HI

Evidenced-based programming is a current trend in most social welfare fields, but not all fields have established an “evidence base.” This creates a need to efficiently build, adapt, and evaluate interventions to build evidence. Panelists in this session will describe ACF’s Permanency Innovations Initiatives (PII) Approach, which provides a concrete strategy for developing, selecting, adapting, and testing innovative programs that can be applied to various fields looking to build an evidence base. PII is a multi-site federal demonstration project designed to improve permanency outcomes among children in foster care who have the most serious barriers to permanency. Maria Woolverton (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Data Mining as an Early Strategy for Building Evaluation Capacity: Lessons from PII

Allison Meisch (Westat)

• Defining Core Functions and Developing Fidelity Measures for Child Welfare Interventions

Tori Russell (JBS International, Inc.)

• Dissemination from the Start: An Intentional Approach to Sharing Information throughout the Project

Courtney Harrison (CLH Strategies & Solutions)

12:00 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (Please refer to pages 52 – 53 for a list of dining options)

12:30 p.m. Lunchtime Panel Discussion on Careers in Research Related to Poverty, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Social WelfareIndependence BC

This panel discussion is designed for emerging scholars and other conference attendees who are interested in pursuing career paths in poverty, family self-sufficiency and social welfare research. It will bring together individuals with experience working in federal and local government, research firms, and academia. Tiffany McCormack (Administration for Children and Families/Business Strategy Consultants) will moderate as panelists discuss their careers and career pathways, provide insights and advice about career building in their respective fields, and answer attendee questions. Panelists are:

• David Berman (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• Kimberly Clum (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• Nadine Dechausay (MDRC)

• Crystal Hall (University of Washington)

Detailed Agenda | 11



TIME EVENT

1:30 p.m. Plenary: Understanding Psychological Processes and Executive Functioning Principles in Human Services Programs LIVE Independence Ballroom

Emerging research from psychology and neuroscience suggests that healthy executive functioning is critical for behaviors such as goal-setting, self-regulation, planning, and problem-solving. This plenary session will address the implications of executive functioning research for human services programs and examine how emerging insights can strengthen programs designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency. LaDonna Pavetti (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) will moderate this session. Panelists are:

• Elisabeth Babcock (Crittenton Women’s Union)

• Adele Diamond (The University of British Columbia)

• John Padilla (New Paradigms Consulting, LLC)

2:45 p.m. EMERGING SCHOLARS POSTER SESSION

Independence Foyer

Please visit the Poster Session, which will be an opportunity to mingle with fellow conference attendees and view posters summarizing work by emerging scholars – researchers and scholars early in their careers – who were selected to participate in the conference. Emerging scholars will be on hand to answer questions about their work.

• Rayane Alamuddin (Northwestern University) Do Mothers’ Past Educational Experiences Relate to their Engagement with Children’s Learning?

• Soonok An (The University of Georgia) Determinants of Screening Behaviors for Domestic Violence under the Family Violence Option

• Anamarie Auger (University of California, Irvine) Early Childhood Programs and Parental Characteristics of Service and Support Utilization

• Mary Caplan (University of Georgia, Athens) Trends in Consumer Debt among Social Benefits Recipients

• Alix Gould-Werth (University of Michigan) The Road to Recovery after Job Loss: A Racially Divided Path

• Devlin Hanson (The Urban Institute) Impact of Family Unification Vouchers on Child Welfare Outcomes

• Benjamin Cerf Harris (U.S. Census Bureau) Veterans’ SNAP Eligibility and Participation During the Great Recession: Administrative Records and the American Community Survey

• Anna Johnson (Georgetown University) Combining Food Assistance Programs to Reduce Food Insecurity in Early Childhood

• Rachel Kirzner (Drexel University) Neighborhood Violence and TANF Receipt









TIME EVENT

2:45 p.m.

(Emerging Scholars continued)

• Molly Knowles (Drexel University) A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on TANF and SNAP Recipients

• Stacey Lloyd (Johns Hopkins University) A Critical Evaluation of Intervention Programs for Children Exposed to Maltreatment

• Eleanor Ott (University of Oxford) Improving Resettled Refugees’ Self-Sufficiency and Well-Being: Evidence from a Systematic Review and a Cross-Sectional Survey

• Stephanie Rennane (University of Maryland) Do Public Transfers Crowd Out Family Transfers? Studying the Family’s Role in Helping the Disabled

• Cassandra Robertson (Harvard University) Mother Knows Best? Women’s Control of Economic Resources and Child Outcomes in Low-Income Fragile Families

• Rhucha Samudra (American University) Estimating the Impact of Job Search Assistance on the Employment Outcomes for TANF Recipients

• Aleta Sprague (New America Foundation) Re-Conceptualizing Public Assistance as a Vehicle for Financial Inclusion

• Alexandra Stanczyk (The University of Chicago) TANF Generosity, State-Provided Maternity Leave, and the Material Well-Being of Low-Income Families with Infants

• Caleb White (Nevada Department of Health and Human Services) Using Survival Models to Improve the Accuracy of Caseload Forecasting in Social Services

• Sharon Wolf (New York University) School Quality Moderates Impacts of a Conditional Cash Transfer Program: Evidence from an Experimental Evaluation

• Ting Zhang (University of Baltimore) Post-Recession Socioeconomic Environment and Local Job Access for Work-Eligible TANF Recipients

• Afshin Zilanawala (University College London) Race, Romance, and Non-Resident Father Involvement Resilience: Factors Hiding in Plain Sight




TIME EVENT

4:00 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection LIVE Independence Ballroom

Low-income families who do not receive TANF during periods of unemployment are often referred to as “disconnected.” This session will draw on recent qualitative and survey research, including OPRE-funded work, to examine how disconnected populations manage economically and investigate child well-being and overall family functioning in disconnected families. Emily Schmitt (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection from Employment and Assistance

Heather Sandstrom (The Urban Institute)Kristin Seefeldt (University of Michigan)

• The Well-Being of Low-Income Children in Families that are Disconnected from Work and Cash Assistance

Zakia Redd (Child Trends)

4:00 p.m. Promising Approaches in Advancement-Focused Workforce Development Independence FG

While there is a rich background of research focused on job training programs, there is limited evidence, to date, about how to best help low-income individuals increase their earnings through advancement. This panel will present evidence from three promising sectoral and advancement workforce programs. David Berman (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity) will moderate this session.

• Low-Wage Incumbent Worker Advancement Through Customized Training

Carolyn Githinji (New York City Department of Small Business Services)

• Promising Data from Sector-Focused Career Centers

Kathryn Henderson (Westat)Joseph Gasper (Westat)

• WorkAdvance: Testing a New Approach to Increase Employment Advancement for Low-Skilled Adults

Betsy Tessler (MDRC)









TIME EVENT

4:00 p.m. Teen Pregnancy Prevention among Youth in Foster Care Independence DE

This session will address what we currently know about sexual risk behavior and pregnancy among youth in foster care, and will explore promising approaches to reduce teen pregnancy among these youth. Kathleen McCoy (Administration for Children and Families/Society for Research in Child Development) will moderate this session.

• Risk of Early Sexual Initiation and Pregnancy among Youth Reported to the Child Welfare System

Cecilia Casanueva (RTI International)

• Putting Youth Relationship Education on the Child Welfare Agenda: Findings from a Research and Evaluation Review

Mindy Scott (Child Trends)

• Evaluation of the POWER Through Choices Program: A Multi-Site Cluster Randomized Trial

Brian Goesling (Mathematica Policy Research)

4:00 p.m. Strategies for Getting Inside the “Black Box” of Employment and Training Programs

Independence HI

Research on the effectiveness of government-funded programs increasingly calls for more than a “yes or no” verdict, and instead calls for examining the so-called “black box.” This session will describe how three rigorous evaluations, two of which are funded by OPRE, are investigating which aspects of programs are responsible for impacts (or lack thereof) and discuss implications for future research and program design. Molly Irwin (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Multi-Armed Randomization to Understand What Drives Program Impacts: An Illustration from the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Impact Study

Laura Peck (Abt Associates)

• Learning “What Works” in Career Pathways Programming: The Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency Evaluation

David Judkins (Abt Associates)

• How Does Job Search Assistance Work in the Unemployment Insurance Program: A Multi-Arm Random Assignment Design

Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates)




TIME EVENT

4:00 p.m. Evaluations in Tribal Communities: Culturally Relevant, Collaborative Approaches and Measure Development Independence BC

This session will address several aspects of conducting evaluations with tribal communities, including the use of culturally responsive approaches, emphasis on community collaboration and capacity building, and measure development to capture and assess interagency collaboration and service coordination. Rondelle Clay (Native American Management Services, Inc.) will moderate this session.

• Roadmap for Co-Creating Collaborative and Effective Evaluation to Improve Tribal Child Welfare Programs

Malia Villegas (National Congress of American Indians)

• Measuring Interagency Collaboration and Service Coordination: OPRE’s Study of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services

Pirkko Ahonen (James Bell Associates)Kim Keating (James Bell Associates)

• HHS’ Tribal Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Building Capacity for Conducting Culturally Relevant Evaluations

Julie Morales (James Bell Associates)

5:15 p.m. SOCIAL GATHERING

Grand Slam Sports Bar, Grand Hyatt

Join fellow conference attendees for informal networking. Refreshments will be available for purchase.








THURSDAY, MAY 29 | 8:30 A.M. – 5:15 P.M.

TIME EVENT


Independence Foyer

8:30 a.m. OPENING REMARKS LIVE


Mark Fucello (Administration for Children and Families)

8:45 a.m. Plenary: Exploring Fatherhood and the Transition to Adulthood for Low-Income Men and Youth LIVE Independence Ballroom

In recent decades, policymakers have invested in responsible fatherhood programs in light of emerging research that strengthening parenting among fathers promotes positive child outcomes. This session will focus on how fatherhood programs and policies can better serve fathers, children, and their families. The panelists will discuss recent research on the changing dynamics of fatherhood in relationships and families, and opportunities for promoting father-child bonds among low-income men and boys of color. Ben O’Dell (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) will moderate this panel. Panelists are:

• Kathryn Edin (Johns Hopkins University)

• Timothy Nelson (Johns Hopkins University)

• David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

10:00 a.m. BREAK


Evaluating an Earned Income Tax Credit for Single Adults LIVE Independence Ballroom

This session will explore the emerging research on an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single adults. The EITC, a refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples, is an effective way to make work pay for low-wage workers. However, many childless adults are ineligible for benefits. This session will explore emerging evidence on how expanding the EITC may improve self-sufficiency for low-income, single adults, including non-custodial parents. Carson Hicks (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity) will moderate this session, and Vicki Turetsky (Administration for Children and Families) will serve as a discussant.

LIVE = Session available via live stream Email [email protected] to request PowerPoint presentations from the conference.





TIME EVENT

10:15 a.m.

(continued from previous session)

• Paycheck Plus: Testing an Expanded EITC for Single Adults in New York City

Cynthia Miller (MDRC)

• Effects of an Expanded EITC on Labor Market Participation for Black and Latino Young Men

Ronald Mincy (Columbia University)

• Strengthening Families with Non-Custodial Parents: Effects of an Expanded EITC on Child Support

Elaine Sorensen (Administration for Children and Families)

10:15 a.m. New Approaches to Subsidized Employment Independence DE

With unemployment remaining high, there has been a resurgence of interest in subsidized employment models that use public funds to create or support jobs for people who are unable to find regular employment. This panel will combine researcher and practitioner perspectives in discussing the latest generation of subsidized employment models and research projects, including OPRE’s Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration. Erica Zielewski (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Federal Research on Subsidized and Transitional Employment

Cindy Redcross (MDRC)

• Findings from an Evaluation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Funded Subsidized Employment Programs

Anne Roder (Economic Mobility Corps)

• Experiences from a Subsidized Employment Program for Non-Custodial Parents

Jenny Taylor (Goodwill of North Georgia)

10:15 a.m. Understanding Services and Opportunities for Disconnected and At-Risk Youth Independence FG

This session will focus on the need for effective programs to help disadvantaged youth transition to self-sufficiency in adulthood. Panelists will discuss the challenges facing youth who are disconnected from employment and school. They will address potential interventions and approaches to improving outcomes and developing a better understanding of what types of programs help students successfully transition from high school to college or employment. Matthew Stagner (Mathematica Policy Research) will moderate this session.

• Opportunities Youth: Developing and Evaluating an Intervention to Improve Employment Outcomes for At-Risk Youth

Heather Koball (The Urban Institute)







TIME EVENT

10:15 a.m.


• The Spillover Effects of Summer Jobs: The Impact of Summer Employment on Student Academic Performance

Amy Ellen Schwartz (New York University)

• Training, Employment, and Mentoring for At-Risk Youth: The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program Evaluation

Sara Edelstein (The Urban Institute)

10:15 a.m. Ensuring Self-Sufficiency Impact Studies are Focused on the Population of Policy Interest Independence BC

Most social welfare impact evaluations take place in a sample of sites not designed to be representative of any larger population. As a result, the impacts in the sample may differ from the impacts in the population. This can be a serious limitation for impact evaluations intended to inform policy decisions that affect larger populations. This session will introduce the issue of external validity, discuss evidence on the prevalence of the problem in social welfare policy evaluations, and suggest approaches to assessing its severity and mitigating the problem in future studies. Larry Orr (Johns Hopkins University) will moderate this session.

• Estimating and Addressing the Bias from Purposive Site Selection

Stephen Bell (Abt Associates)

• A Design-Based Approach to Improve External Validity in Social Welfare Policy Evaluation

Elizabeth Tipton (Columbia University)

• Selecting More Representative Samples for Random Assignment Experiments

Rob Olsen (Abt Associates)

10:15 a.m. Using Rigorous Methods to Study Housing Stability and Family Homelessness Independence HI

The federal government has set a goal to end family and youth homelessness by 2020, but we need more research on effective strategies for serving these homeless populations. This panel will feature three presentations about current random assignment studies of interventions that serve homeless families and youth, including ACF’s Transitional Living Program and Supportive Housing Grant Cluster, as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Unification Program. The presentations will describe the approaches used to produce rigorous evidence about the effectiveness of these interventions. Alicia Sutton (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session, and Jill Khadduri (Abt Associates) will serve as a discussant.

Email [email protected] to request PowerPoint presentations from the conference. Detailed Agenda | 19




TIME EVENT

10:15 a.m.


• Evaluation of the Transitional Living Program

Alvaro Cortes (Abt Associates)

• Studying the Provision of Permanent Housing to Unstably-Housed Families

Michael Pergamit (The Urban Institute)

• Implementing a Random Assignment Study of Interventions to Serve Homeless Families

Daniel Gubits (Abt Associates)

11:30 a.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (Please refer to pages 52 – 53 for a list of dining options)

11:45 a.m. MUNCH AND MINGLE LUNCH GATHERING


We welcome conference attendees to bring their own lunch and gather in the back of the ballroom for informal networking from 11:45 a.m. to 12: 45 p.m. Food and refreshments are available for purchase at the restaurants listed in the back of the program book.

1:00 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Rapid Cycle Evaluation: Helping State and Local Policy Makers Make Good Decisions LIVE Independence Ballroom

There can be a tension between the time needed to implement rigorous policy evaluations and the immediate needs of policy makers for information. This session will explore methods to help policy makers generate and use evidence for decision making, even on short timelines. Michelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research) will moderate this session.

• Using Rapid Cycle Evaluation Techniques to Test Regulatory Changes

Scott Cody (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Recognizing and Conducting Opportunistic Experiments

Alexandra Resch (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Responding to Rapidly Changing Environments: The Benefits of Internal Evaluation Capacity

Angela Rachidi (New York City Human Resources Administration)







TIME EVENT

1:00 p.m. Issues in County, State, and Tribal TANF Programs Independence HI

This session includes three presentations that will describe, evaluate, and compare different TANF administrative approaches at three levels of government – state, county, and tribal. Two OPRE-sponsored projects will be highlighted. Levetta Love (Colorado Department of Human Services) will moderate this session.

• County Versus State Administered TANF Programs: A Descriptive Study

Heather Hahn (The Urban Institute)

• Overview of State Variation in Key TANF Cash Assistance Policies

Erika Huber (The Urban Institute)

• Using TANF’s Flexibility to Meet the Unique Needs and Circumstances of Tribal Grantees

Walter Hillabrant (Support Services International, Inc.)

1:00 p.m. Career Pathways: Target Population Characteristics and Outcomes Independence FG

Career pathways programs provide post-secondary education and training organized as a series of manageable steps leading to successively higher credentials and employment opportunities in growing occupations. This session will discuss what we know so far about the characteristics and outcomes of participants in the career pathways programs being evaluated by OPRE’s Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency and Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) research projects. Seanna Ruvkun (Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County) will moderate this session.

• A Statistical Portrait of Disadvantaged Populations Targeted in Emerging Career Pathways Programs

David Fein (Abt Associates)

• Early Findings on Participant Outcomes from the HPOG National Implementation Evaluation

Pamela Loprest (The Urban Institute)

• Analysis of Participant Psychological and Economic Self-Sufficiency in Two Career Pathways Programs

Philip Hong (Loyola University Chicago)





TIME EVENT

1:00 p.m. Addressing Disparities Faced By Young Men of Color: The New York City Young Men’s Initiative Independence DE

This session will focus on the New York City Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) – a cross-agency enterprise designed to address disparities between young black and Latino men and their peers across numerous outcomes related to education, health, employment, and the justice system. Participants will provide an overview of the YMI, explore findings from evaluations of YMI programs, and share a national perspective on improving black male achievement. Alan Farrell (New York City Office of the Mayor) will moderate this panel.

• The First Years of the Young Men’s Initiative

Jahmani Hylton (New York City Office of the Mayor)

• Evaluation Findings from Young Men’s Initiative Programs

Carson Hicks (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• The National Perspective: Advancing Black Male Achievement

Ronald Mincy (Columbia University)

1:00 p.m. Research on LGBT Populations and Human Services: Recent Findings and Future Directions Independence BC

Existing data indicate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families and youth may be disproportionately at risk of poor outcomes related to economic security and well-being. However, more research is needed about the characteristics of at-risk LGBT populations and strategies for promoting positive outcomes among them. This panel will review research needs and recent findings on human services for at-risk LGBT populations, featuring recent efforts funded by ACF – the Research Development Project on the Human Service Needs of LGBT Populations project, case studies of four Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grantees serving LGBT youth, and early findings on the implementation of Project RISE, which is part of ACF’s Permanency Innovations Initiative. Seth Chamberlain (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Developing a Research Agenda on the Human Service Needs of LGBT Populations

Andrew Burwick (Mathematica Policy Research)

• An Intervention for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center’s RISE Project

Lisa Parrish (Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center)

• Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees

Daniel Friend (Mathematica Policy Research)







TIME EVENT

2:15 p.m. BREAK

2:30 p.m. FACILITATED ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

These facilitated, informal discussions will provide an opportunity for attendees to gather and discuss each of the following topics. One or more facilitators will be on hand for each roundtable to introduce the topic and guide the discussion.

Asset Building in Native Communities Independence FG

• Sarah Dewees (First Nations Development Institute)

• Christy Finsel (Independent Asset-Building Consultant)

Using Tools from Implementation Science to Increase the Rigor of Large Scale Implementation Studies Independence BC

• Diane Paulsell (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Heather Zaveri (Mathematica Policy Research)

Network Analysis: The Impact of Participant Social Capital on Job Training Program Success Independence DE

• Cheryl Hyde (Temple University)

Behavioral Diagnosis and Design from the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency Project Independence Ballroom

• Alexander Mayer (MDRC)

Integrating Health and Human Services: New Findings about Overlapping Eligibility Under the Affordable Care Act Independence FG

• Stan Dorn (The Urban Institute)

OPRE’s Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium: An AWESOME Initiative Independence Ballroom

• Michelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)





TIME EVENT

2:30 p.m.

(Roundtable Discussions continued)

Trial and Error in Public Policy: Lessons from Business on Rapid, Iterative Experimentation Independence DE

• Jim Manzi (Manhattan Institute for Policy Research)

TANF and SSI: Small Overlaps, Promising Pilots Independence Ballroom

• Matthew Borus (Administration for Children and Families)

Promoting Financial Capability Independence DE

• Desmond Brown (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Understanding Men and Boys as Victims of Trauma Independence HI

• David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

Poverty Measurement for the 21st Century Independence FG

• Don Oellerich (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

TANF and Family Homelessness: Understanding and Informing State Approaches to Housing, Supportive Services, and Innovative Practice Independence Ballroom

• Nora Gilligan (Administration for Children and Families)

• Rachel Gwilliam (Administration for Children and Families)

• Rebecca Shwalb (Administration for Children and Families)

Families Under Stress: Responding to the Needs of Military and Veteran Families with Young Children Independence BC

• Allison Holmes (Optimal Solutions Group)

• Dorinda Williams (Zero To Three)

Best Practices in Research Dissemination and Communication Independence Ballroom

• Adam Coyne (Mathematica Policy Research)

• John Hutchins (MDRC)







TIME EVENT

2:30 p.m.

(Roundtable Discussions continued)

The Intersections of Research and Practice for Supporting Youth Development Independence Ballroom

• Michelle Boyd (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• Sarah Oberlander (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

SNAP Employment and Training Pilots Independence HI

• Kathryn Law (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

• Moira Johnston (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

3:45 p.m. BREAK

4:00 p.m. Plenary: Examining New Initiatives to Promote Skill-Building among Low-Income Individuals LIVE Independence Ballroom

Strong skills are critical for success in the labor market and overall self-sufficiency. Yet, many low-income Americans lack the skills needed to obtain employment in the U.S. labor market. Moreover, as the skills needed for today’s jobs change, it is especially important to consider opportunities to promote skill-building among low-income individuals. This panel discussion, moderated by Paige Shevlin (Executive Office of the President), will aim to answer the question of how to increase skills for low-income Americans and move them into better jobs. Beginning with findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies Survey of Adult Skills, the panelists will discuss the implications of these findings for the American workforce, emerging approaches to address the earnings and skills gaps, and the potential use of apprenticeships as a tool to improve skills. Panelists are:

• Johan Uvin (U.S. Department of Education)

• Harry Holzer (Georgetown University and American Institutes for Research)

• Robert Lerman (American University and The Urban Institute)




FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT


Independence Foyer


Building Blocks to Economic Self-Sufficiency: Increasing Financial Capabilities for Recipients of TANF and Other Social Services LIVE Independence Ballroom

Studies show that low-income families are more likely to be unbanked and “underbanked” than families with higher earnings. Lacking a bank account or depending on alternative financial services leads to significant financial barriers for low-income families that hinder economic growth and social mobility. This session will evaluate strategies that local and state human services agencies are testing to equip TANF recipients with the financial knowledge and resources they need to overcome barriers to financial security, including ACF’s Asset Initiative Partnership. Gretchen Lehman (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Financial Counseling and Financial Access for the Financially Vulnerable

Kasey Wiedrich (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Building Economic Self-Sufficiency of TANF Clients Through Financial Education and Matched Savings

Kate Griffin (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Financial Management Strategies of TANF and SNAP Recipients: Lessons for Policy Makers and Administrators

Mariana Chilton (Drexel University)

8:30 a.m. Exploring Employment Opportunities for Hard-to-Serve Youth Independence FG

For youth, participating and succeeding in employment are important for a successful transition to adulthood. Yet, some particularly vulnerable populations of youth face specific challenges that make entering the labor market even more difficult. This session, moderated by Jennifer Kemp (U.S. Department of Labor), will discuss emerging federal research on employment programs serving vulnerable groups of youth, including: the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Youth Transition Demonstration (serving youth with disabilities), ACF’s Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program project (focusing on youth aging out of foster care), and Chicago’s Bridges and Pathways Initiative (directed at youth exiting juvenile detention), which OPRE is evaluating as part of its Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration.

LIVE = Session available via live stream Email [email protected] to request PowerPoint presentations from the conference.







FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT

8:30 a.m.


• Chicago’s Bridges and Pathways Program: Combining Subsidized Employment with Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Young Men Released from Juvenile Detention

Jennifer Axelrod (City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services)

• What Do We Know about Employment Services for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care?: Lessons from ACF’s Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Project

Marla McDaniel (The Urban Institute)

• SSA’s Youth Transition Demonstration: 24-Month Findings

Jeffrey Hemmeter (Social Security Administration)

8:30 a.m. The Role of Fathers in Home Visiting Programs Independence BC

This session will focus on innovative approaches to father engagement in home visiting programs. Participants will discuss current studies, two of which are funded by ACF, exploring effective strategies to encourage father engagement and future research possibilities. Natasha Cabrera (University of Maryland) will moderate this session.

• Home Visiting: Approaches to Father Engagement and Fathers’ Experiences

Elizabeth Peters (The Urban Institute)

• The Role of Home Visiting Programs in Engaging Fathers and Promoting Coparenting

Angelique Teeters (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

• Nurse Home Visiting and Father Engagement: Lessons Learned from Summer’s Project

Lauren Fischman (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

8:30 a.m. Emerging Research on Child Support Issues Independence DE

This session will highlight emerging research on child support issues. Participants will discuss child support guidelines for low-income families, methods for improving paternity establishment, and promising tests of interventions designed to increase child support collections. Lauren Antelo (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this panel.

• Child Support Guidelines and Single Mothers’ Child Support Receipt

Lanlan Xu (Indiana University)

• Experimental Tests of Efforts to Improve Child Support Collections in Washington State-Impact Findings

Asaph Glosser (MEF Associates)

• Improving Paternity Establishment using Multiple Methods

Janet Melby (Iowa State University)



FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT

8:30 a.m. Identifying Evidence-Based Programs and Strategies for Low-Income Families Using Systematic Reviews Independence HI

Systematic evidence reviews can be an important resource for policy makers seeking to implement evidence-based programming. However, evidence reviews are not uniform in scope, process, or criteria, and using the results is not always straightforward. This panel brings together researchers who are leading government-sponsored systematic reviews of evidence in three different areas relevant to economic self-sufficiency. Each panelist will discuss how the reviews are being conducted and lessons learned. Lauren Supplee (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session.

• Effectiveness of Home Visiting Programs: A Systematic Review

Sarah Avellar (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Results from the Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research

Annalisa Mastri (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Design of OPRE’s Employment Strategies for Low-Income Adults Evidence Review

Andrew Clarkwest (Mathematica Policy Research)

9:45 a.m. BREAK

10:00 a.m. CLOSING REMARKS LIVE


Hilary Forster (Administration for Children and Families)

10:15 a.m. Plenary: How to Build Reliable Evidence and Inform Policy – Lessons from 40 Years of Welfare Research LIVE Independence Ballroom

Welfare is often touted as the area where rigorous social science research has been most sustained and has had the clearest impact on policy. Roundtable panelists will reflect on the history of this research, discussing questions including: Why were randomized experiments sustained over 40 years? What questions did this research answer well? How did the research inform and influence legislation, policy, and practice at the national and state levels? To what extent are lessons relevant to social policy research today and to other fields? What can be done to promote such rigorous research? Rebecca Maynard (University of Pennsylvania) will moderate this session, and Mark Greenberg (Administration for Children and Families) will serve as a discussant. Panelists are:

• Howard Rolston (Abt Associates)

• Judith Gueron (Independent Scholar)

• Ron Haskins (The Brookings Institution)

• Don Winstead (Don Winstead Consulting, LLC)








FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT

11:30 a.m. BREAK


Drivers of Economic Mobility: Which Factors Matter for Families’ Movement Up the Economic Ladder? LIVE Independence Ballroom

Beginning with an overview of the measures and state of economic mobility in America, this session, moderated by Sarah Sattelmeyer (The Pew Charitable Trusts), will address three key questions related to mobility, specifically: Do all Americans enjoy equal opportunity at birth, regardless of the financial and economic status of their parents? What factors help propel someone up the economic ladder or push them down? What role should public policy play in promoting economic mobility?

• Mobility and the Metropolis: How Communities Factor into Economic Mobility

Diana Elliott (The Pew Charitable Trusts)

• Hard Choices: Navigating the Economic Shock of Unemployment

Hannah Thomas (Brandeis University)

• Why Do Some Americans Leave the Bottom of the Economic Ladder, But Not Others?

Denise Wilson (Independent Contractor)

11:45 a.m. Employment Services for Tribal Populations Independence BC

This session will provide a broad overview of educational and workforce needs and opportunities in tribal communities and focus specifically on career pathways for tribal students in the healthcare field. The session will highlight research being conducted on ACF’s Tribal Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program. Felicia Gaither (Administration for Children and Families) will serve as a moderator.

• Higher Education and Workforce Development in Tribal Communities

Carol Hafford (NORC at the University of Chicago)

• Evaluation of Tribal HPOG: Preliminary Results, Stakeholder Satisfaction, and Student Success Stories

Katherine Meyer (NORC at the University of Chicago)

• Development of a Community/Academic Partnership Model to Promote the Recruitment and Retention of American Indians into Nursing Careers

Loretta Heuer (North Dakota State University)



FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT

11:45 a.m. Early Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education Independence DE

This session will discuss early findings from OPRE’s National Survey of Early Care and Education. The survey documents the nation’s current use and availability of early care and education, which will deepen our understanding of the extent to which families’ needs and preferences coordinate well with providers’ offerings and constraints. The panelists will also describe selected early findings regarding parental search and the predictors of quality in center- and home-based early childhood education settings. Ivelisse Martinez-Beck (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this session, and Andrew Williams (Administration for Children and Families) will serve as a discussant.

• Predictors of Quality in Early Care and Education

Richard Brandon (RNB Consulting)

• Geographic Distribution of Provider Choices

Robert Goerge (University of Chicago)

• Family Early Care and Education Search

Lina Guzman (Child Trends)

11:45 a.m. Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Economic Factors Independence FG

This session will focus on intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants will provide an overview of the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, explore the intersection between economic factors and IPV, and discuss policy implications. Madeleine De Boinville (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) will moderate this panel.

• Intimate Partner Violence and Economic Factors – Results from the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey

Matthew Breiding (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• The Role of Economic Factors and Economic Support in Preventing and Escaping from Intimate Partner Violence

Jennifer Matjasko (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• IPV and Economic Factors: Implications for Policy and Practices

Anne Menard (National Resource Center on Domestic Violence)








FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

TIME EVENT

11:45 a.m. What Really Happened: Conceptualizing and Measuring Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs Independence HI

Measurement matters: if we collect data on the wrong constructs, or collect data in the wrong way, we may erroneously believe a program is effective or ineffective. This session will focus on the state of measurement in two high-profile fields of research. This panel will present current thinking on key constructs to measure in responsible fatherhood programs. It will also review how well one set of measures fared in an evaluation of healthy marriage services for low-income married couples, and whether survey and observational measures found similar effects. Nancye Campbell (Administration for Children and Families) will moderate this panel.

• Temple University Responsible Fatherhood Research Network

Jay Fagan (Temple University)

• Comparing Survey and Observation-Based Marital Interaction Measures in a Large Social Experiment

David Fein (Abt Associates)

• Measuring “Healthy Marriage” in OPRE’s Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation

Mindy Scott (Child Trends)

1:00 p.m. CONFERENCE ADJOURNS


Track:TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies(TANF)

SESSION DATE, TIME, LOCATION PRESENTERS

Developing Evidence on “What Works” in Moving TANF Recipients to Work through Job Search

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Cynthia Woodside (American Public Human Services Association)

• Job Search Strategies for Helping TANF Recipients Find Employment: Current Practices and PoliciesMichelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Overview of the Job Search Assistance Strategies EvaluationKarin Martinson (Abt Associates)

• Job Club: Applying Executive Function Research to Improve Participant OutcomesJill Reynolds (Public Consulting Group)

PLENARY:

Understanding Psychological Processes and Executive Functioning Principles in Human Services Programs

Wednesday, May 28

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.Independence Ballroom

MODERATOR:

LaDonna Pavetti (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

PANELISTS:

Elisabeth Babcock (Crittenton Women’s Union)Adele Diamond (The University of British Columbia)John Padilla (New Paradigms Consulting, LLC)

Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

Emily Schmitt (Administration for Children and Families)

• Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection from Employment and AssistanceHeather Sandstrom (The Urban Institute)Kristin Seefeldt (University of Michigan)

• The Well-Being of Low-Income Children in Families that Are Disconnected from Work and Cash AssistanceZakia Redd (Child Trends)

New Approaches to Subsidized Employment

Thursday, May 29

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Erica Zielewski (Administration for Children and Families)

• Federal Research on Subsidized and Transitional Employment Cindy Redcross (MDRC)

• Findings from an Evaluation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Funded Subsidized Employment Programs Anne Roder (Economic Mobility Corps)

• Experiences from a Subsidized Employment Program for Non-Custodial Parents Jenny Taylor (Goodwill of North Georgia)

Track Descriptions



32 | Track Descriptions






Issues in County, State, and Tribal TANF Programs

Thursday, May 29

1:00 – 2:15 p.m.Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Levetta Love (Colorado Department of Human Services)

• County Versus State Administered TANF Programs: A Descriptive Study Heather Hahn (The Urban Institute)

• Overview of State Variation in Key TANF Cash Assistance Policies Erika Huber (The Urban Institute)

• Using TANF’s Flexibility to Meet the Unique Needs and Circumstances of Tribal Grantees Walter Hillabrant (Support Services International, Inc.)

Building Blocks to Economic Self-Sufficiency: Increasing Financial Capabilities for Recipients of TANF and Other Social Services

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.Independence Ballroom

MODERATOR:

Gretchen Lehman (Administration for Children and Families)

• Financial Counseling and Financial Access for the Financially VulnerableKasey Wiedrich (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Building Economic Self-Sufficiency of TANF Clients Through Financial Education and Matched SavingsKate Griffin (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Financial Management Strategies of TANF and SNAP Recipients: Lessons for Policy Makers and AdministratorsMariana Chilton (Drexel University)

PLENARY:

How to Build Reliable Evidence and Inform Policy – Lessons from 40 Years of Welfare Research

Friday, May 30

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Independence Ballroom

MODERATOR:

Rebecca Maynard (University of Pennsylvania)

PANELISTS:

Howard Rolston (Abt Associates)Judith Gueron (Independent Scholar)Ron Haskins (The Brookings Institute)Don Winstead (Don Winstead Consulting, LLC)

DISCUSSANT:

Mark Greenberg (Administration for Children and Families)

Track Descriptions | 33



Facilitated Roundtable Discussions

Thursday, May 29

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. (See pages 23 – 25 for locations)

• TANF and Family Homelessness: Understanding and Informing State Approaches to Housing, Supportive Services, and Innovative PracticeNora Gilligan (Administration for Children and Families)Rachel Gwilliam (Administration for Children and Families)Rebecca Shwalb (Administration for Children and Families)

• TANF and SSI: Small Overlaps, Promising PilotsMatthew Borus (Administration for Children and Families)

• OPRE’s Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium: An AWESOME InitiativeMichelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)







Track:Education,Training,andSuccessintheLaborMarket


Developing Evidence on “What Works” in Moving TANF Recipients to Work through Job Search

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Cynthia Woodside (American Public Human Services Association)

• Job Search Strategies for Helping TANF Recipients Find Employment: Current Practices and PoliciesMichelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Overview of the Job Search Assistance Strategies EvaluationKarin Martinson (Abt Associates)

• Job Club: Applying Executive Function Research to Improve Participant OutcomesJill Reynolds (Public Consulting Group)

Promising Approaches in Advancement-Focused Workforce Development

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m. Independence FG

MODERATOR:

David Berman (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• Low-Wage Incumbent Worker Advancement Through Customized Training Carolyn Githinji (New York City Department of Small Business Services)

• Promising Data from Sector-Focused Career CentersKathryn Henderson (Westat)Joseph Gasper (Westat)

• WorkAdvance: Testing a New Approach to Increase Employment Advancement for Low-Skilled AdultsBetsy Tessler (MDRC)

Strategies for Getting Inside the “Black Box” of Employment and Training Programs

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m. Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Molly Irwin (Administration for Children and Families)

• Multi-Armed Randomization to Understand What Drives Program Impacts: An Illustration from the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Impact StudyLaura Peck (Abt Associates)

• Learning “What Works” in Career Pathways Programming: The Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency Evaluation David Judkins (Abt Associates)

• How Does Job Search Assistance Work in the Unemployment Insurance Program: A Multi-Arm Random Assignment Design Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates)




New Approaches to Subsidized Employment

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Erica Zielewski (Administration for Children and Families)

• Federal Research on Subsidized and Transitional Employment Cindy Redcross (MDRC)

• Findings from an Evaluation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-Funded Subsidized Employment ProgramsAnne Roder (Economic Mobility Corps)

• Experiences from a Subsidized Employment Program for Non-Custodial Parents Jenny Taylor (Goodwill of North Georgia)

Understanding Services and Opportunities for Disconnected and At-Risk Youth

Thursday, May 29

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Matthew Stagner (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Opportunities Youth: Developing and Evaluating an Intervention to Improve Employment Outcomes for At-Risk YouthHeather Koball (The Urban Institute)

• The Spillover Effects of Summer Jobs: The Impact of Summer Employment on Student Academic PerformanceAmy Ellen Schwartz (New York University)

• Training, Employment, and Mentoring for At-Risk Youth: The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program EvaluationSarah Edelstein (The Urban Institute)

Career Pathways: Target Population Characteristics and Outcomes

Thursday, May 29

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Seanna Ruvkun (Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County)

• A Statistical Portrait of Disadvantaged Populations Targeted in Emerging Career Pathways Programs David Fein (Abt Associates)

• Early Findings on Participant Outcomes from the HPOG National Implementation Evaluation Pamela Loprest (The Urban Institute)

• Analysis of Participant Psychological and Economic Self-Sufficiency in Two Career Pathways Programs Philip Hong (Loyola University Chicago)









PLENARY:

Examining New Initiatives to Promote Skill-Building among Low-Income Individuals

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Paige Shevlin (Executive Office of the President)

PANELISTS:

Johan Uvin (U.S. Department of Education)Harry Holzer (Georgetown University and American Institutes for Research)Robert Lerman (American University and The Urban Institute)

Exploring Employment Opportunities for Hard-to-Serve Youth

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Jennifer Kemp (U.S. Department of Labor)

• Chicago’s Bridges and Pathways Program: Combining Subsidized Employment with Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Young Men Released from Juvenile DetentionJennifer Axelrod (City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services)

• What Do We Know about Employment Services for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care?: Lessons from ACF’s Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program ProjectMarla McDaniel (The Urban Institute)

• SSA’s Youth Transition Demonstration: 24-Month FindingsJeffrey Hemmeter (Social Security Administration)

Employment Services for Tribal Populations

Friday, May 30

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Felicia Gaither (Administration for Children and Families)

• Higher Education and Workforce Development in Tribal Communities Carol Hafford (NORC at the University of Chicago)

• Evaluation of Tribal HPOG: Preliminary Results, Stakeholder Satisfaction, and Student Success StoriesKatherine Meyer (NORC at the University of Chicago)

• Development of a Community/Academic Partnership Model to Promote the Recruitment and Retention of American Indians into Nursing CareersLoretta Heuer (North Dakota State University)


Thursday, May 29


• Network Analysis: The Impact of Participant Social Capital on Job Training Program Success Cheryl Hyde (Temple University)

• SNAP Employment and Training PilotsKathryn Law (U.S. Department of Agriculture)Moira Johnston (U.S. Department of Agriculture)


Track:ChildandYouthWell-Being


Dual Generation Strategies to Support Families

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Kathleen Dwyer (Administration for Children and Families)

• Evaluating Tulsa’s Two-Generation CareerAdvance Program: Early Findings Christopher King (University of Texas at Austin)

• Twice the Opportunity: Strategies to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care and their ChildrenLisa Primus (Center for the Study of Social Policy)

• Through a Different Lens: Recognizing and Resourcing Initiative in American CommunitiesMia Birdsong (Family Independence Initiative)

The Permanency Innovations Initiative: Strategies for Building and Evaluating Interventions

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Maria Woolverton (Administration for Children and Families)

• Data Mining as an Early Strategy for Building Evaluation Capacity: Lessons from PII Allison Meisch (Westat)

• Defining Core Functions and Developing Fidelity Measures for Child Welfare Interventions Tori Russell (JBS International, Inc.)

• Dissemination from the Start: An Intentional Approach to Sharing Information throughout the Project Courtney Harrison (CLH Strategies & Solutions)

Teen Pregnancy Prevention among Youth in Foster Care

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m. Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Kathleen McCoy (Administration for Children and Families/Society for Research in Child Development)

• Risk of Early Sexual Initiation and Pregnancy among Youth Reported to the Child Welfare SystemCecilia Casanueva (RTI International)

• Putting Youth Relationship Education on the Child Welfare Agenda: Findings from a Research and Evaluation ReviewMindy Scott (Child Trends)

• Evaluation of the POWER Through Choices Program: A Multi-Site Cluster Randomized TrialBrian Goesling (Mathematica Policy Research)

PLENARY:

Exploring Fatherhood and the Transition to Adulthood for Low-Income Men and Youth

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Ben O’Dell (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

PANELISTS:

Kathryn Edin (Johns Hopkins University) Timothy Nelson (Johns Hopkins University) David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)









Understanding Services and Opportunities for Disconnected and At-Risk Youth

Thursday, May 29

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Matthew Stagner (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Opportunities Youth: Developing and Evaluating an Intervention to Improve Employment Outcomes for At-Risk YouthHeather Koball (The Urban Institute)

• The Spillover Effects of Summer Jobs: The Impact of Summer Employment on Student Academic PerformanceAmy Ellen Schwartz (New York University)

• Training, Employment, and Mentoring for At-Risk Youth: The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program EvaluationSarah Edelstein (The Urban Institute)

Addressing Disparities Faced by Young Men of Color: The New York City Young Men’s Initiative

Thursday, May 29

1:00 – 2:15 p.m.Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Alan Farrell (New York City Office of the Mayor)

• The First Years of the Young Men’s InitiativeJahmani Hylton (New York City Office of the Mayor)

• Evaluation Findings from Young Men’s Initiative ProgramsCarson Hicks (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• The National Perspective: Advancing Black Male AchievementRonald Mincy (Columbia University)

Exploring Employment Opportunities for Hard-to-Serve Youth

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.Independence FG

MODERATOR:

Jennifer Kemp (U.S. Department of Labor)

• Chicago’s Bridges and Pathways Program: Combining Subsidized Employment with Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Young Men Released from Juvenile DetentionJennifer Axelrod (City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services)

• What Do We Know about Employment Services for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care?: Lessons from ACF’s Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program ProjectMarla McDaniel (The Urban Institute)

• SSA’s Youth Transition Demonstration: 24-Month FindingsJeffrey Hemmeter (Social Security Administration)




The Role of Fathers in Home Visiting Programs

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Natasha Cabrera (University of Maryland)

• Home Visiting: Approaches to Father Engagement and Fathers’ ExperiencesElizabeth Peters (The Urban Institute)

• The Role of Home Visiting Programs in Engaging Fathers and Promoting Coparenting Angelique Teeters (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

• Nurse Home Visiting and Father Engagement: Lessons Learned from Summer’s ProjectLauren Fischman (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Early Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education

Friday, May 30

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Ivelisse Martinez-Beck (Administration for Children and Families)

• Predictors of Quality in Early Care and EducationRichard Brandon (RNB Consulting)

• Geographic Distribution of Provider ChoicesRobert Goerge (University of Chicago)

• Family Early Care and Education SearchLina Guzman (Child Trends)

DISCUSSANT:

Andrew Williams (Administration for Children and Families)


Thursday, May 29


• Understanding Men and Boys as Victims of Trauma David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

• The Intersections of Research and Practice for Supporting Youth Development Michelle Boyd (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)Sarah Oberlander (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)







Track:Fatherhood,Relationships,andStrengtheningFamilies


The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency Project: Applying Behavioral Economics Principles to Child Support Programs

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Independence Ballroom

• Behavioral Economics and Social Policy: Designing Innovative Solutions for Programs Supported by the Administration for Children and Families Lashawn Richburg-Hayes (MDRC)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Help Incarcerated Parents Apply for Child Support Order Modifications Mary Farrell (MEF Associates) Michael Hayes (Texas Office of the Attorney General)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Timely and Regular Child Support Payments Peter Baird (MDRC) Susan Brown (Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency)

Participant Experiences in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Anna Solmeyer (Administration for Children and Families/Business Strategies Consultants)

• Fathers’ Motivations for Enrolling and Engaging in Responsible Fatherhood Programs Heather Zaveri (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Perspectives of Low-Income African-American and Latino Couples on Relationship Education Chrishana Lloyd (MDRC)

• Las Voces del Campo: Voices from the Field of the Hispanic Healthy Marriage Initiative Implementation Evaluation Allison Hyra (ICF International)

Teen Pregnancy Prevention among Youth in Foster Care

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m. Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Kathleen McCoy (Administration for Children and Families/Society for Research in Child Development)

• Risk of Early Sexual Initiation and Pregnancy among Youth Reported to the Child Welfare SystemCecilia Casanueva (RTI International)

• Putting Youth Relationship Education on the Child Welfare Agenda: Findings from a Research and Evaluation ReviewMindy Scott (Child Trends)

• Evaluation of the POWER Through Choices Program: A Multi-Site Cluster Randomized TrialBrian Goesling (Mathematica Policy Research)

PLENARY:

Exploring Fatherhood and the Transition to Adulthood for Low-Income Men and Youth

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Ben O’Dell (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

PANELISTS:

Kathryn Edin (Johns Hopkins University) Timothy Nelson (Johns Hopkins University) David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)




Addressing Disparities Faced by Young Men of Color: The New York City Young Men’s Initiative

Thursday, May 29

1:00 – 2:15 p.m.Independence DE

MODERATOR:

Alan Farrell (New York City Office of the Mayor)

• The First Years of the Young Men’s InitiativeJahmani Hylton (New York City Office of the Mayor)

• Evaluation Findings from Young Men’s Initiative ProgramsCarson Hicks (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• The National Perspective: Advancing Black Male AchievementRonald Mincy (Columbia University)

The Role of Fathers in Home Visiting Programs

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Natasha Cabrera (University of Maryland)

• Home Visiting: Approaches to Father Engagement and Fathers’ ExperiencesElizabeth Peters (The Urban Institute)

• The Role of Home Visiting Programs in Engaging Fathers and Promoting Coparenting Angelique Teeters (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

• Nurse Home Visiting and Father Engagement: Lessons Learned from Summer’s ProjectLauren Fischman (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Emerging Research on Child Support Issues

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Lauren Antelo (Administration for Children and Families)

• Child Support Guidelines and Single Mothers’ Child Support Receipt Lanlan Xu (Indiana University)

• Experimental Tests of Efforts to Improve Child Support Collections in Washington State – Impact Findings Asaph Glosser (MEF Associates)

• Improving Paternity Establishment using Multiple Methods Janet Melby (Iowa State University)









Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Economic Factors

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Madeleine De Boinville (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• Intimate Partner Violence and Economic Factors – Results from the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence SurveyMatthew Breiding (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• The Role of Economic Factors and Economic Support in Preventing and Escaping from Intimate Partner ViolenceJennifer Matjasko (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• IPV and Economic Factors: Implications for Policy and PracticesAnne Menard (National Resource Center on Domestic Violence)

What Really Happened: Conceptualizing and Measuring Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Nancye Campbell (Administration for Children and Families)

• Temple University Responsible Fatherhood Research Network Jay Fagan (Temple University)

• Comparing Survey and Observation-Based Marital Interaction Measures in a Large Social Experiment David Fein (Abt Associates)

• Measuring “Healthy Marriage” in OPRE’s Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation Mindy Scott (Child Trends)


Thursday, May 29


• Understanding Men and Boys as Victims of Trauma David Pate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

• Families Under Stress: Responding to the Needs of Military and Veteran Families with Young ChildrenAllison Holmes (Optimal Solutions Group)Dorinda Williams (Zero To Three)


Track:EvaluatingSocialPrograms:BuildingandUsingEvidence


The Permanency Innovations Initiative: Strategies for Building and Evaluating Interventions

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

Maria Woolverton (Administration for Children and Families)

• Data Mining as an Early Strategy for Building Evaluation Capacity: Lessons from PII Allison Meisch (Westat)

• Defining Core Functions and Developing Fidelity Measures for Child Welfare Interventions Tori Russell (JBS International, Inc.)

• Dissemination from the Start: An Intentional Approach to Sharing Information throughout the Project Courtney Harrison (CLH Strategies & Solutions)

Strategies for Getting Inside the “Black Box” of Employment and Training Programs

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m. Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Molly Irwin (Administration for Children and Families)

• Multi-Armed Randomization to Understand What Drives Program Impacts: An Illustration from the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Impact StudyLaura Peck (Abt Associates)

• Learning “What Works” in Career Pathways Programming: The Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency Evaluation David Judkins (Abt Associates)

• How Does Job Search Assistance Work in the Unemployment Insurance Program: A Multi-Arm Random Assignment Design Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates)

Evaluations in Tribal Communities: Culturally Relevant, Collaborative Approaches and Measure Development

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m.Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Rondelle Clay (Native American Management Services, Inc.)

• Roadmap for Co-Creating Collaborative and Effective Evaluation to Improve Tribal Child Welfare ProgramsMalia Villegas (National Congress of American Indians)

• Measuring Interagency Collaboration and Service Coordination: OPRE’s Study of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare ServicesPirkko Ahonen (James Bell Associates)Kim Keating (James Bell Associates)

• HHS’ Tribal Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Building Capacity for Conducting Culturally Relevant EvaluationsJulie Morales (James Bell Associates)









Ensuring Self-Sufficiency Impact Studies are Focused on the Population of Policy Interest

Thursday, May 29

10:15 – 11:30 a.m.Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Larry Orr (Johns Hopkins University)

• Estimating and Addressing the Bias from Purposive Site Selection Stephen Bell (Abt Associates)

• A Design-Based Approach to Improve External Validity in Social Welfare Policy Evaluation Elizabeth Tipton (Columbia University)

• Selecting More Representative Samples for Random Assignment Experiments Rob Olsen (Abt Associates)

Rapid Cycle Evaluation: Helping State and Local Policy Makers Make Good Decisions

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Michelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Using Rapid Cycle Evaluation Techniques to Test Regulatory Changes Scott Cody (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Recognizing and Conducting Opportunistic Experiments Alexandra Resch (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Responding to Rapidly Changing Environments: The Benefits of Internal Evaluation Capacity Angela Rachidi (New York City Human Resources Administration)

Identifying Evidence-Based Programs and Strategies for Low-Income Families Using Systematic Reviews

Friday, May 30

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Lauren Supplee (Administration for Children and Families)

• Effectiveness of Home Visiting Programs: A Systematic ReviewSarah Avellar (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Results from the Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and ResearchAnnalisa Mastri (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Design of OPRE’s Employment Strategies for Low-Income Adults Evidence Review Andrew Clarkwest (Mathematica Policy Research)




PLENARY:

How to Build Reliable Evidence and Inform Policy – Lessons from 40 Years of Welfare Research

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Rebecca Maynard (University of Pennsylvania)

PANELISTS:

Howard Rolston (Abt Associates)Judith Gueron (Independent Scholar)Ron Haskins (The Brookings Institute)Don Winstead (Don Winstead Consulting, LLC)

DISCUSSANT:

Mark Greenberg (Administration for Children and Families)

What Really Happened: Conceptualizing and Measuring Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Nancye Campbell (Administration for Children and Families)

• Temple University Responsible Fatherhood Research Network Jay Fagan (Temple University)

• Comparing Survey and Observation-Based Marital Interaction Measures in a Large Social Experiment David Fein (Abt Associates)

• Measuring “Healthy Marriage” in OPRE’s Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation Mindy Scott (Child Trends)


Thursday, May 29


• Using Tools from Implementation Science to Increase the Rigor of Large Scale Implementation Studies Diane Paulsell (Mathematica Policy Research)Heather Zaveri (Mathematica Policy Research)

• Behavioral Diagnosis and Design from the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency ProjectAlexander Mayer (MDRC)

• Trial and Error in Public Policy: Lessons from Business on Rapid, Iterative ExperimentationJim Manzi (Manhattan Institute for Policy Research)

• Poverty Measurement for the 21st Century Don Oellerich (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

• Best Practices in Research Dissemination and Communication Adam Coyne (Mathematica Policy Research)John Hutchins (MDRC)







Track:ApproachestoAlleviatePovertyandStrengthentheSafetyNet


PLENARY:

Exploring Policy Options to Promote Economic Mobility

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

Jeannie Chaffin (Administration for Children and Families)

PANELISTS:

Greg Acs (The Urban Institute)Aparna Mathur (American Enterprise Institute)Ida Rademacher (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency Project: Applying Behavioral Economics Principles to Child Support Programs

Wednesday, May 28

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Independence Ballroom

• Behavioral Economics and Social Policy: Designing Innovative Solutions for Programs Supported by the Administration for Children and Families Lashawn Richburg-Hayes (MDRC)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Help Incarcerated Parents Apply for Child Support Order Modifications Mary Farrell (MEF Associates) Michael Hayes (Texas Office of the Attorney General)

• Using Behavioral Economics to Increase Timely and Regular Child Support Payments Peter Baird (MDRC) Susan Brown (Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency)

Dual Generation Strategies to Support Families

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

Kathleen Dwyer (Administration for Children and Families)

• Evaluating Tulsa’s Two-Generation CareerAdvance Program: Early Findings Christopher King (University of Texas at Austin)

• Twice the Opportunity: Strategies to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care and their ChildrenLisa Primus (Center for the Study of Social Policy)

• Through a Different Lens: Recognizing and Resourcing Initiative in American Communities Mia Birdsong (Family Independence Initiative)

PLENARY:

Understanding Psychological Processes and Executive Functioning Principles in Human Services Programs

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

LaDonna Pavetti (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

PANELISTS:

Elisabeth Babcock (Crittenton Women’s Union)Adele Diamond (The University of British Columbia)John Padilla (New Paradigms Consulting, LLC)




Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection

Wednesday, May 28


MODERATOR:

Emily Schmitt (Administration for Children and Families)

• Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection from Employment and AssistanceHeather Sandstrom (The Urban Institute)Kristin Seefeldt (University of Michigan)

• The Well-Being of Low-Income Children in Families that are Disconnected from Work and Cash AssistanceZakia Redd (Child Trends)

Evaluations in Tribal Communities: Culturally Relevant, Collaborative Approaches and Measure Development

Wednesday, May 28

4:00 – 5:15 p.m.Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Rondelle Clay (Native American Management Services, Inc.)

• Roadmap for Co-Creating Collaborative and Effective Evaluation to Improve Tribal Child Welfare ProgramsMalia Villegas (National Congress of American Indians)

• Measuring Interagency Collaboration and Service Coordination: OPRE’s Study of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare ServicesPirkko Ahonen (James Bell Associates)Kim Keating (James Bell Associates)

• HHS’ Tribal Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Building Capacity for Conducting Culturally Relevant EvaluationsJulie Morales (James Bell Associates)

Evaluating an Earned Income Tax Credit for Single Adults

Thursday, May 29


MODERATOR:

Carson Hicks (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity)

• Paycheck Plus: Testing an Expanded EITC for Single Adults in New York City Cynthia Miller (MDRC)

• Effects of an Expanded EITC on Labor Market Participation for Black and Latino Young Men Ronald Mincy (Columbia University)

• Strengthening Families with Non-Custodial Parents: Effects of an Expanded EITC on Child Support Elaine Sorensen (Administration for Children and Families)

DISCUSSANT:

Vicki Turetsky (Administration for Children and Families)









Using Rigorous Methods to Study Housing Stability and Family Homelessness

Thursday, May 29

10:15 – 11:30 a.m.Independence HI

MODERATOR:

Alicia Sutton (Administration for Children and Families)

• Evaluation of the Transitional Living Program Alvaro Cortes (Abt Associates)

• Studying the Provision of Permanent Housing to Unstably-Housed Families Michael Pergamit (The Urban Institute)

• Implementing a Random Assignment Study of Interventions to Serve Homeless Families Daniel Gubits (Abt Associates)

DISCUSSANT:

Jill Khadduri (Abt Associates)

Research on LGBT Populations and Human Services: Recent Findings and Future Directions

Thursday, May 29

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Independence BC

MODERATOR:

Seth Chamberlain (Administration for Children and Families)

• Developing a Research Agenda on the Human Service Needs of LGBT Populations Andrew Burwick (Mathematica)

• An Intervention for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center’s RISE ProjectLisa Parrish (Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center)

• Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees Daniel Friend (Mathematica Policy Research)

Building Blocks to Economic Self-Sufficiency: Increasing Financial Capabilities for Recipients of TANF and Other Social Services

Friday, May 30


MODERATOR:

Gretchen Lehman (Administration for Children and Families)

• Financial Counseling and Financial Access for the Financially VulnerableKasey Wiedrich (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Building Economic Self-Sufficiency of TANF Clients Through Financial Education and Matched SavingsKate Griffin (Corporation for Enterprise Development)

• Financial Management Strategies of TANF and SNAP Recipients: Lessons for Policy Makers and AdministratorsMariana Chilton (Drexel University)




Drivers of Economic Mobility: Which Factors Matter for Families’ Movement Up the Economic Ladder?

Friday, May 30

11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Independence Ballroom

MODERATOR:

Sarah Sattelmeyer (The Pew Charitable Trusts)

• Mobility and the Metropolis: How Communities Factor into Economic MobilityDiana Elliott (The Pew Charitable Trusts)

• Hard Choices: Navigating the Economic Shock of UnemploymentHannah Thomas (Brandeis University)

• Why Do Some Americans Leave the Bottom of the Economic Ladder, But Not Others?Denise Wilson (Independent Contractor)


Thursday, May 29


• Asset Building in Native Communities Sarah Dewees (First Nations Development Institute)Christy Finsel (Independent Asset-Building Consultant)

• Behavioral Diagnosis and Design from the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency ProjectAlexander Mayer (MDRC)

• Integrating Health and Human Services: New Findings about Overlapping Eligibility Under the Affordable Care ActStan Dorn (The Urban Institute)

• OPRE’s Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium: An AWESOME InitiativeMichelle Derr (Mathematica Policy Research)

• TANF and SSI: Small Overlaps, Promising PilotsMatthew Borus (Administration for Children and Families)

• Promoting Financial CapabilityDesmond Brown (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

• TANF and Family Homelessness: Understanding and Informing State Approaches to Housing, Supportive Services, and Innovative PracticeNora Gilligan (Administration for Children and Families)Rachel Gwilliam (Administration for Children and Families)Rebecca Shwalb (Administration for Children and Families)

• Families Under Stress: Responding to the Needs of Military and Veteran Families with Young ChildrenAllison Holmes (Optimal Solutions Group)Dorinda Williams (Zero To Three)







Networking Opportunities

Lunchtime Panel Discussion on Careers in Research Related to Poverty, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Social Welfare

Wednesday, May 28, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.Independence BC

This discussion – which is open to all conference attendees – will feature panelists with experience working in federal and local government, research firms, and academia. The panelists will provide insights and advice about career building in their respective

fields and answer attendee questions.

Emerging Scholars Poster SessionWednesday, May 28, 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Independence Foyer

The Emerging Scholars Poster Session is an opportunity to mingle with fellow conference attendees while viewing posters summarizing work by the emerging

scholars selected to participate in the conference. The scholars will be on hand to answer questions about their work.

Social GatheringWednesday, May 28, 5:15 p.m.

Grand Slam Sports Bar, Grand Hyatt

Join us after the first day of the conference for informal networking. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Munch and Mingle Lunch GatheringThursday, May 29, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.


Bring your lunch and gather in the back of the ballroom for informal networking and discussion with fellow conference attendees. Food and refreshments are available for

purchase at the restaurants listed in the back of the program book.

Facilitated Roundtable DiscussionsThursday, May 29, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.In rooms as listed on pages 23 – 25

The facilitated roundtables provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in interactive discussions of family self-sufficiency and related topics.

Networking Opportunities | 51

Hotel Information

Grand Hyatt Washington Restaurants

Starbucks – Lobby Level Daily: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Zephyr Deli – Lobby Level Daily: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cure Bar & Bistro – Lobby Level Monday through Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

The Grand Café – Lagoon Level (1B) Daily: 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Grand Slam – Lagoon Level (1B) Monday through Thursday: 3:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Friday: 3:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.

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GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON

1000 H Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20001

grandwashington .hyatt .com

Grand Hyatt Washington Floorplan - Independence Level


52 | Hotel Information

A) Devon & Blakely 1331 F Street, NW (Between 13th Street & 14th Street)

B) Roti Mediterranean Grill 1311 F Street, NW (Between 13th Street & 14th Street)

C) District Taco 1309 F Street, NW (Between 13th Street & 14th Street)

D) Au Bon Pain 1100 13th Street, NW (G Street NW between 13th Street & 14th Street)

E) McDonald’s 1235 New York Avenue, NW (Corner of 13th Street & New York Avenue)

F) Italian Gourmet and Deli 1212 New York Avenue, NW (Between 12th Street & 13th Street)

G) Dunkin’ Donuts 1210 G Street, NW (Between 13th Street & 14th Street)

H) Chop’t 618 12th Street, NW (Between F Street and G Street)

I) Cosi 700 11th Street, NW (Entrance on corner of 12th Street & G Street)

J) Capitol City Brewing Company 1100 New York Avenue, NW (Entrance on H Street)

K) Pret A Manger 1155 F Street, NW (Corner of 11th Street & F Street)

L) Potbelly Sandwich Shop 555 12th Street, NW (Corner of 11th Street & F Street)

M) Le Pain Quotidien 975 F Street, NW (Between 9th Street & 10th Street)

N) Atrium Café 750 9th Street, NW (Between H Street & H Street)

O) Five Guys Burgers and Fries 808 H Street, NW (Between 8th Street & 9th Street)

P) Zpizza 806 H Street, NW (Between 8th Street & 9th Street)

Local Restaurant Information

Grand Hyatt Washington



Local Restaurant Information | 53

Notes

54 | Notes

Notes

Notes | 55

Connect with the SSRC via social media:

Like the SSRC on www.facebook.com/opressrc

Follow the SSRC on @OPRE_SSRC

Join SSRC on

Visit the Self-Sufficiency Research Clearinghouse (SSRC) Exhibit Booth to: y Take a virtual tour of the SSRC y Learn how the SSRC can inform research projects and program decisions y Submit your research to the SSRC Library y Sign up for the SSRC Newsletter y Register for upcoming SSRC Webinars y Give feedback on the SSRC

Funded by OPRE, the SSRC is a Web-based repository of research — a “one stop” portal — which promotes sharing of knowledge in the self-sufficiency field.

Visit the SSRC at www.opressrc.org

Connect with the SSRC via social media:

Like the SSRC on www.facebook.com/opressrc

Follow the SSRC on @OPRE_SSRC

Join SSRC on

Visit the Self-Sufficiency Research Clearinghouse (SSRC) Exhibit Booth to: y Take a virtual tour of the SSRC y Learn how the SSRC can inform research projects and program decisions y Submit your research to the SSRC Library y Sign up for the SSRC Newsletter y Register for upcoming SSRC Webinars y Give feedback on the SSRC

Funded by OPRE, the SSRC is a Web-based repository of research — a “one stop” portal — which promotes sharing of knowledge in the self-sufficiency field.

Visit the SSRC at www.opressrc.org

Rigorous evidence for improving child and family well-being

About OPREThe Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) studies Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs and the populations they serve through rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of existing programs, research syntheses, and descriptive and exploratory studies.

What We DoOPRE is a unit within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. We conduct rigorous research and evaluation focused on improving child and family well-being.

Our core issue areas include Head Start, welfare, employment and self-sufficiency, child abuse and neglect, child care, responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage, maternal and infant home visiting, and youth services.

We collaborate with ACF program offices and human service organizations to share research and demonstration findings that inform policy, practice, and research.

OPRE includes three divisions:

• Division of Economic Independence• Division of Child and Family Development• Division of Family Strengthening

For more information on OPRE, visit acf.hhs.gov/opre.

Stay connected to OPRE researchOPRE invites you to get the latest news and updates through our e-newsletter and social media.

facebook.com/OPRE.ACF @OPRE_ACF

OFFICE OF PLANNING, RESEARCH & EVALUATION An Office of the Administration for Children & Families

Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation Administration for Children & Families 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, D.C.

http://acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre

http://www.facebook.com/opre.acf

https://twitter.com/#!/OPRE_ACF

https://twitter.com/#!/OPRE_SSRC

http://www.opressrc.org

http://www.facebook.com/opressrc

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/SelfSufficiency-Research-Clearinghouse-4300823

We invite you to use the tools displayed here to engage with OPRE, conference participants, and others interested in well-being and self-sufficiency among low-income families during the conference and throughout the year.

Follow WREC on Twitter @WREC_OPRE

Join the OPRE listserv

Join the WREC LinkedIn group

Sign up for WREC email updates

Go to the WREC website at wrconference.net

ABOUT THE WREC: WREC is a leading forum for researchers, practitioners, program operators, state and local administrators, federal officials, and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on family self-sufficiency and social welfare programs and policies.

Stay Connected

https://twitter.com/#!/WREC_OPRE

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Welfare-Research-Evaluation-Conference-4371674?gid=4371674&trk=hb_side_g

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Welfare-Research-Evaluation-Conference-4371674?gid=4371674&trk=hb_side_g

mailto:WREC%40esi-dc.com?subject=

http://wrconference.net/

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