Iowa Family Investment Program (FIP) Evaluation

General Information

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Evaluator(s) Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Investigator(s) Thomas Fraker (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)
Sponsor(s) Iowa Department of Human Services
Funder(s) US Department of Health and Human Services
Subcontractor(s) Institute for Social and Economic Development
 
Domain Income Security/TANF
Child/Family
Status Completed with continuing analysis
Duration Oct 1997 - Jun 2002
Type Research and/or Program Evaluation
Goal To evaluate Iowa's Family Investment Program (FIP)
Program/Policy Description Iowa’s FIP replaced the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program in Iowa on October 1, 1993. FIP reflects a broad agreement among Iowa welfare policymakers that the previous program should be replaced from one which emphasized income maintenance to one that emphasizes employment and client responsibility. FIP includes the Limited Benefit Plan (LBP) to which cases that fail to sign or meet the requirements of a written Family Investment Agreement (FIA) are assigned, and the PROMISE JOBS employment and training program. FIP’s major provisions include: providing financial incentives and support for employment; requiring participants to take steps toward self-sufficiency; encouraging formation and preservation of two-parent families; imposing stiffer consequences; and encouraging productive saving and asset accumulation.
Notes See project summary of Iowa's Limited Benefit Plan (Mathematica).
The Iowa State Welfare Reform Evaluation Track 2 project, which complements the Iowa's Family Investment Program (FIP), consists of two studies -a study of repeat limited benefit plan (LBP) assignment and a study of post-employment services.
 
Last Updated 12/13/02
Type of Summary Reviewed
External Reviewer(s) Thomas Fraker (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)
Contact(s) Thomas Fraker (not reported)
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 2393
(T) (202) 484-4698
(F) (609)-799-0005
Publications Department Jacqueline Allen (jallen@mathematica-mpr.com)
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 2393
(T) (609)-275-2350
(F) (609)-799-0005

Populations Studied

Sample Size and Unit 7,178 FIP recipient cases (cases that were receiving public assistance in September 1993). Random assignment to treatment (n=4,800) and control (n=2,378) group.

4,000 welfare applicants (cases that applied for assistance on of after October 1993 without regard for whether applications were approved or denied). Random assignment to treatment (n=2,781) or control (n=1,409) group.

1,858 ongoing Food Stamp only (FSO) cases. Random assignment to treatment (n=1,240) and control (n=618) groups.

3,141 applicant Food Stamp cases. Random assignment to treatment (n=2,060) and control (n=1,081) groups.

Sites Studied

Urban counties:
Black Hawk County, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
Woodbury County, Iowa
Polk County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Rural Counties:
Clinton County, Iowa
Des Moines County, Iowa
Jackson County, Iowa
Jones County, Iowa