LaDonna Pavetti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by LaDonna Pavetti

Understanding Poverty, 2009

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2009

Social Science Research Network, Nov 10, 2005

A paper presented at the November 2000 conference "Welfare Reform Four Years Later: Progress... more A paper presented at the November 2000 conference "Welfare Reform Four Years Later: Progress and Prospects," sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

... Cambridge, Ma.: Urban Systems Research and Engineering, Inc. Bane, Mary Jo, and David T. Ellw... more ... Cambridge, Ma.: Urban Systems Research and Engineering, Inc. Bane, Mary Jo, and David T. Ellwood. 1994. ... 1997. "Turning Job Finders into Job Keepers." The Future of Children: Welfare to Work 7 (1):74-86. Martinson, Karin, and Daniel Friedlander. 1994. ...

In spite of an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity, the U.S. poverty rate remains high ... more In spite of an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity, the U.S. poverty rate remains high relative to the levels of the early 1970s and relative to those in many industrialized countries today. Looking back over the four decades since the nation declared war on poverty, the authors ask how the poor have fared in the market economy, what government programs have and have not accomplished, and what remains to be done. They shed light on how changes in the labor market, family structure, and social welfare, health, and education policies have affected trends in poverty. Most significantly, they offer suggestions for changes in programs and policies that hold real promise for reducing poverty and income inequality.

development of this report. Michael Dubinsky, the project officer for the Administration for Chil... more development of this report. Michael Dubinsky, the project officer for the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with members of the federal workgroup organized for this project provided guidance and support in identifying key research projects relevant to this review. We wish to specifically thank Howard Rolston and Ann Burek of the Administration for Children and Families, and Peggy Cook of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their careful reviews of this report and helpful feedback. We are also grateful to Marilyn Ellwood and James Ohls of Mathematica Policy Research (MPR), and to Kathleen Maloy, Gary Hyzer, and Allison Logie, subcontractors to MPR, each of whom reviewed an earlier draft. At MPR, Michelle Derr reviewed and tabled data from studies of welfare leavers and families who have been sanctioned or reached welfare time limits. Jacquelyn Anderson provided a number of summaries of literature on Medicaid and Medicaid ...

for contributing their extensive knowledge of current welfare work programs. Thank you to Pamela ... more for contributing their extensive knowledge of current welfare work programs. Thank you to Pamela Metz for her excellent research assistance and to Carol Knell for her editing of the final draft. The authors acknowledge generous support from the MacArthur Foundation. During the Great Depression, when unemployment rates were soaring toward 30 percent, public service employment seemed an inevitable part of the solution, and thus various programs like WPA and CCC were born. During summers in the 1970s, when youth unemployment approached 25%, and black youth unemployment was double that, the Summer Youth Employment Program provided summer jobs for young people. When welfare recipients were having a difficult time making the transition to work, presumably in part because they lacked real work experience, the work experience program in San Diego was born. And in West Virginia, with unemployment high and welfare caseloads growing, unemployed parents with children on AFDC were required to wo...

This paper uses the LIS database to compare the probability of being poor for female-headed house... more This paper uses the LIS database to compare the probability of being poor for female-headed households and two-parent households in the United States, West Germany, Canada, Israel and Australia. This paper also uses demographics to try and explain the differences in poverty in and across each of the five countries.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for low-income disabled children are back in the news... more Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for low-income disabled children are back in the news, in part because of a recent New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Unfortunately, the program is being subject to some sharp criticism that is based on misunderstanding of key issues related to SSI for poor children with disabilities. Discussion and debates concerning this program should be rooted in facts and data, not impressions, misimpressions, and anecdotes. Here, we present basic facts about the program and try to clear up some significant misunderstandings.

Mathematica Policy Research, Mar 1, 2005

Services (HHS) on policy development issues, and is responsible for major activities in the areas... more Services (HHS) on policy development issues, and is responsible for major activities in the areas of legislative and budget development, strategic planning, policy research and evaluation, and economic analysis. ASPE develops or reviews issues from the viewpoint of the Secretary, providing a perspective that is broader in scope than the specific focus of the various operating agencies. ASPE also works closely with the HHS operating divisions. It assists these agencies in developing policies, and planning policy research, evaluation and data collection within broad HHS and administration initiatives. ASPE often serves a coordinating role for crosscutting policy and administrative activities. ASPE plans and conducts evaluations and research-both in-house and through support of projects by external researchers-of current and proposed programs and topics of particular interest to the Secretary, the Administration and the Congress. Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP), within ASPE, is responsible for the development, coordination, analysis, research and evaluation of HHS policies and programs which support the independence, health and long-term care of persons with disabilities-children, working aging adults, and older persons. DALTCP is also responsible for policy coordination and research to promote the economic and social well-being of the elderly. In particular, DALTCP addresses policies concerning: nursing home and communitybased services, informal caregiving, the integration of acute and long-term care, Medicare post-acute services and home care, managed care for people with disabilities, long-term rehabilitation services, children's disability, and linkages between employment and health policies. These activities are carried out through policy planning, policy and program analysis, regulatory reviews, formulation of legislative proposals, policy research, evaluation and data planning.

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2008

Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment... more Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment preparation services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide. This brief explores the benefits and challenges of linking TANF and VR services, describes partnerships that have been formed in Vermont and Iowa, and discusses key features critical to developing a successful partnership.

As the millennium began, a report produced by the National Academy of Science set the course for ... more As the millennium began, a report produced by the National Academy of Science set the course for consideration of how brain science can be used to develop programs helping disadvantaged children. Since then, braindevelopment research has brought into clearer focus the role environment plays in the cognitive function of adults, specifically the executive function skills critical for success in school performance, parenting, and work.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF) block grant offers valuable lessons for why t... more The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF) block grant offers valuable lessons for why the House Republicans’ proposal to convert Medicaid into a block grant or per capita cap poses considerable risks for states. The TANF experience shows that block grants are a bad deal for states, particularly those that are poor or experiencing disproportionate population growth or change. In addition, efforts in TANF to address population change and hard economic times within the constraints of the funding formula have been found to be inadequate and unsustainable over time.

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2008

This brief profiles three programs that use difference approaches—unpaid work experience, subsi... more This brief profiles three programs that use difference approaches—unpaid work experience, subsidized employment, and unsubsidized transitional employment—to create work opportunities for TANF recipients who are living with a disability and have not been successful in finding competitive employment.

Pathways is a set of protocols and other tools to help welfare office staff support their clients... more Pathways is a set of protocols and other tools to help welfare office staff support their clients in the transition to employment. It was launched in 1995 by Project Match and is based on the philosophy of "universal engagement" central to most TANF reauthorization proposals. This brief reviews implementation of Pathways in two counties in New York and one in California, offering insight into what might be required to achieve universal engagement as well as how systems like Pathways might become more effective tools for achieving higher work participation rates.

Examines welfare reform in Virginia, which implemented reforms early and focused on building atta... more Examines welfare reform in Virginia, which implemented reforms early and focused on building attachment to jobs and the economy, noting that many welfare workers believed work incentives were critical to program success and that, despite new strategies to help workers do their jobs differently, major restructuring of the welfare office was uncommon.

Based on survey findings, this report examines the characteristics, circumstances, and job readin... more Based on survey findings, this report examines the characteristics, circumstances, and job readiness of single-parent TANF cases, noting that most are not long-term welfare recipients, and the majority had some paid employment in the past two years. However, many had weak educational backgrounds and reported problems such as poor physical or mental health, caring for a family member with a health problem or special need, or problems with child care and transportation. Although Illinois has a strong work incentive package, fewer than a third of these household heads are meeting federal work requirements. In response, comprehensive strategies may be needed to address the multiple liabilities prevalent in this population. Also available in HTML format at http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/TANF-IL-emp03/index.htm.

Examines six transitional jobs programs to provide insights into the model and its potential for ... more Examines six transitional jobs programs to provide insights into the model and its potential for serving hard-to-employ TANF recipients. Notes that these programs, which expand on the "work first" approach by providing a wage, a more flexible environment, and individualized services, can help participants bridge the gap between the worlds of welfare and work. More than 80 percent of those

The Future of Children, 1997

Most welfare-to-work programs designed to help single mothers leave welfare for employment focus ... more Most welfare-to-work programs designed to help single mothers leave welfare for employment focus on the challenge of finding a job. This article looks beyond the point of employment to consider the difficulty many former welfare recipients have keeping their jobs. The authors review evidence showing that many families cycle back and forth between welfare and work, losing jobs and returning to public assistance while they seek work again. Factors contributing to high rates of job loss include characteristics of the job and of the worker: Temporary jobs, frequent layoffs, low pay in relation to work expenses, lack of experience meeting employer expectations, and personal or family problems all lead to dismissals and resignations. Drawing from the experience of innovative programs, the authors recommend policy changes and program approaches that can help families overcome setbacks and stabilize their lives as they move from welfare into increasingly stable employment. P olitical rhetoric, its translation by the press, and the design of some welfare-to-work programs can give the impression that the challenge facing welfare policymakers is how to "put welfare recipients to work." Public discontent over welfare expenditures is stoked by perceptions of welfare recipients as idle beneficiaries of taxpayer support who lack the motivation that keeps most Americans working. The major interventions to move single mothers with children off the welfare rolls have focused on the challenge of "getting a job," but continuing program experience and research have brought to light the importance of helping welfare recipients to stay employed. This article reviews what is known about the "job-keeping" challenge. Both research and program experience suggest that work is actually a common experience for women who received Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), but their hold on employment is tenuous. Job loss occurs frequently because of the nature of the jobs welfare recipients find, the technical and personal skills they bring to jobs, and the pressures and disruptions they face in their personal lives as they juggle responsibilities to their children and their employers. The article also points out that current wel-74 74

Understanding Poverty, 2009

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2009

Social Science Research Network, Nov 10, 2005

A paper presented at the November 2000 conference "Welfare Reform Four Years Later: Progress... more A paper presented at the November 2000 conference "Welfare Reform Four Years Later: Progress and Prospects," sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

... Cambridge, Ma.: Urban Systems Research and Engineering, Inc. Bane, Mary Jo, and David T. Ellw... more ... Cambridge, Ma.: Urban Systems Research and Engineering, Inc. Bane, Mary Jo, and David T. Ellwood. 1994. ... 1997. "Turning Job Finders into Job Keepers." The Future of Children: Welfare to Work 7 (1):74-86. Martinson, Karin, and Daniel Friedlander. 1994. ...

In spite of an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity, the U.S. poverty rate remains high ... more In spite of an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity, the U.S. poverty rate remains high relative to the levels of the early 1970s and relative to those in many industrialized countries today. Looking back over the four decades since the nation declared war on poverty, the authors ask how the poor have fared in the market economy, what government programs have and have not accomplished, and what remains to be done. They shed light on how changes in the labor market, family structure, and social welfare, health, and education policies have affected trends in poverty. Most significantly, they offer suggestions for changes in programs and policies that hold real promise for reducing poverty and income inequality.

development of this report. Michael Dubinsky, the project officer for the Administration for Chil... more development of this report. Michael Dubinsky, the project officer for the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with members of the federal workgroup organized for this project provided guidance and support in identifying key research projects relevant to this review. We wish to specifically thank Howard Rolston and Ann Burek of the Administration for Children and Families, and Peggy Cook of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their careful reviews of this report and helpful feedback. We are also grateful to Marilyn Ellwood and James Ohls of Mathematica Policy Research (MPR), and to Kathleen Maloy, Gary Hyzer, and Allison Logie, subcontractors to MPR, each of whom reviewed an earlier draft. At MPR, Michelle Derr reviewed and tabled data from studies of welfare leavers and families who have been sanctioned or reached welfare time limits. Jacquelyn Anderson provided a number of summaries of literature on Medicaid and Medicaid ...

for contributing their extensive knowledge of current welfare work programs. Thank you to Pamela ... more for contributing their extensive knowledge of current welfare work programs. Thank you to Pamela Metz for her excellent research assistance and to Carol Knell for her editing of the final draft. The authors acknowledge generous support from the MacArthur Foundation. During the Great Depression, when unemployment rates were soaring toward 30 percent, public service employment seemed an inevitable part of the solution, and thus various programs like WPA and CCC were born. During summers in the 1970s, when youth unemployment approached 25%, and black youth unemployment was double that, the Summer Youth Employment Program provided summer jobs for young people. When welfare recipients were having a difficult time making the transition to work, presumably in part because they lacked real work experience, the work experience program in San Diego was born. And in West Virginia, with unemployment high and welfare caseloads growing, unemployed parents with children on AFDC were required to wo...

This paper uses the LIS database to compare the probability of being poor for female-headed house... more This paper uses the LIS database to compare the probability of being poor for female-headed households and two-parent households in the United States, West Germany, Canada, Israel and Australia. This paper also uses demographics to try and explain the differences in poverty in and across each of the five countries.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for low-income disabled children are back in the news... more Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for low-income disabled children are back in the news, in part because of a recent New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. Unfortunately, the program is being subject to some sharp criticism that is based on misunderstanding of key issues related to SSI for poor children with disabilities. Discussion and debates concerning this program should be rooted in facts and data, not impressions, misimpressions, and anecdotes. Here, we present basic facts about the program and try to clear up some significant misunderstandings.

Mathematica Policy Research, Mar 1, 2005

Services (HHS) on policy development issues, and is responsible for major activities in the areas... more Services (HHS) on policy development issues, and is responsible for major activities in the areas of legislative and budget development, strategic planning, policy research and evaluation, and economic analysis. ASPE develops or reviews issues from the viewpoint of the Secretary, providing a perspective that is broader in scope than the specific focus of the various operating agencies. ASPE also works closely with the HHS operating divisions. It assists these agencies in developing policies, and planning policy research, evaluation and data collection within broad HHS and administration initiatives. ASPE often serves a coordinating role for crosscutting policy and administrative activities. ASPE plans and conducts evaluations and research-both in-house and through support of projects by external researchers-of current and proposed programs and topics of particular interest to the Secretary, the Administration and the Congress. Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP), within ASPE, is responsible for the development, coordination, analysis, research and evaluation of HHS policies and programs which support the independence, health and long-term care of persons with disabilities-children, working aging adults, and older persons. DALTCP is also responsible for policy coordination and research to promote the economic and social well-being of the elderly. In particular, DALTCP addresses policies concerning: nursing home and communitybased services, informal caregiving, the integration of acute and long-term care, Medicare post-acute services and home care, managed care for people with disabilities, long-term rehabilitation services, children's disability, and linkages between employment and health policies. These activities are carried out through policy planning, policy and program analysis, regulatory reviews, formulation of legislative proposals, policy research, evaluation and data planning.

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2008

Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment... more Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment preparation services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide. This brief explores the benefits and challenges of linking TANF and VR services, describes partnerships that have been formed in Vermont and Iowa, and discusses key features critical to developing a successful partnership.

As the millennium began, a report produced by the National Academy of Science set the course for ... more As the millennium began, a report produced by the National Academy of Science set the course for consideration of how brain science can be used to develop programs helping disadvantaged children. Since then, braindevelopment research has brought into clearer focus the role environment plays in the cognitive function of adults, specifically the executive function skills critical for success in school performance, parenting, and work.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF) block grant offers valuable lessons for why t... more The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF) block grant offers valuable lessons for why the House Republicans’ proposal to convert Medicaid into a block grant or per capita cap poses considerable risks for states. The TANF experience shows that block grants are a bad deal for states, particularly those that are poor or experiencing disproportionate population growth or change. In addition, efforts in TANF to address population change and hard economic times within the constraints of the funding formula have been found to be inadequate and unsustainable over time.

Mathematica Policy Research Reports, 2008

This brief profiles three programs that use difference approaches—unpaid work experience, subsi... more This brief profiles three programs that use difference approaches—unpaid work experience, subsidized employment, and unsubsidized transitional employment—to create work opportunities for TANF recipients who are living with a disability and have not been successful in finding competitive employment.

Pathways is a set of protocols and other tools to help welfare office staff support their clients... more Pathways is a set of protocols and other tools to help welfare office staff support their clients in the transition to employment. It was launched in 1995 by Project Match and is based on the philosophy of "universal engagement" central to most TANF reauthorization proposals. This brief reviews implementation of Pathways in two counties in New York and one in California, offering insight into what might be required to achieve universal engagement as well as how systems like Pathways might become more effective tools for achieving higher work participation rates.

Examines welfare reform in Virginia, which implemented reforms early and focused on building atta... more Examines welfare reform in Virginia, which implemented reforms early and focused on building attachment to jobs and the economy, noting that many welfare workers believed work incentives were critical to program success and that, despite new strategies to help workers do their jobs differently, major restructuring of the welfare office was uncommon.

Based on survey findings, this report examines the characteristics, circumstances, and job readin... more Based on survey findings, this report examines the characteristics, circumstances, and job readiness of single-parent TANF cases, noting that most are not long-term welfare recipients, and the majority had some paid employment in the past two years. However, many had weak educational backgrounds and reported problems such as poor physical or mental health, caring for a family member with a health problem or special need, or problems with child care and transportation. Although Illinois has a strong work incentive package, fewer than a third of these household heads are meeting federal work requirements. In response, comprehensive strategies may be needed to address the multiple liabilities prevalent in this population. Also available in HTML format at http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/TANF-IL-emp03/index.htm.

Examines six transitional jobs programs to provide insights into the model and its potential for ... more Examines six transitional jobs programs to provide insights into the model and its potential for serving hard-to-employ TANF recipients. Notes that these programs, which expand on the "work first" approach by providing a wage, a more flexible environment, and individualized services, can help participants bridge the gap between the worlds of welfare and work. More than 80 percent of those

The Future of Children, 1997

Most welfare-to-work programs designed to help single mothers leave welfare for employment focus ... more Most welfare-to-work programs designed to help single mothers leave welfare for employment focus on the challenge of finding a job. This article looks beyond the point of employment to consider the difficulty many former welfare recipients have keeping their jobs. The authors review evidence showing that many families cycle back and forth between welfare and work, losing jobs and returning to public assistance while they seek work again. Factors contributing to high rates of job loss include characteristics of the job and of the worker: Temporary jobs, frequent layoffs, low pay in relation to work expenses, lack of experience meeting employer expectations, and personal or family problems all lead to dismissals and resignations. Drawing from the experience of innovative programs, the authors recommend policy changes and program approaches that can help families overcome setbacks and stabilize their lives as they move from welfare into increasingly stable employment. P olitical rhetoric, its translation by the press, and the design of some welfare-to-work programs can give the impression that the challenge facing welfare policymakers is how to "put welfare recipients to work." Public discontent over welfare expenditures is stoked by perceptions of welfare recipients as idle beneficiaries of taxpayer support who lack the motivation that keeps most Americans working. The major interventions to move single mothers with children off the welfare rolls have focused on the challenge of "getting a job," but continuing program experience and research have brought to light the importance of helping welfare recipients to stay employed. This article reviews what is known about the "job-keeping" challenge. Both research and program experience suggest that work is actually a common experience for women who received Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), but their hold on employment is tenuous. Job loss occurs frequently because of the nature of the jobs welfare recipients find, the technical and personal skills they bring to jobs, and the pressures and disruptions they face in their personal lives as they juggle responsibilities to their children and their employers. The article also points out that current wel-74 74