Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/KristaKOlson

This is the third annual report to Congress on waivers granted by the U.S. Department of Education. States and School Districts use the waiver authorities (allowed under three 1994 laws) to adapt federal programs and use federal funds to address their local needs. This report provides reviews the federal and state roles in waiver administration, provides details about waivers granted, examines the progress of past waivers, and offers conclusion about their contribution to improved teaching and learning.

There are two Highlights for each state. The income support and social services Highlights look at basic income support programs, employment and training programs, child care, child support enforcement, and the last-resort safety net. The Highlights capture policies in place and planned in 1996 and early 1997.

There are two Highlights for each state. The income support and social services Highlights look at basic income support programs, employment and training programs, child care, child support enforcement, and the last-resort safety net. The Highlights capture policies in place and planned in 1996 and early 1997.

The state reports describe the safety net and health care programs in place for low-income people on the eve of welfare reform. The reports also analyze the particular circumstances that are shaping the state's response to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The state reports are based on case studies in the respective state.

This report assesses the progress and accomplishments of the STOP Program in the second year of STOP program authorization. The Violence Against Women Act, Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322), provides for Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to states under Chapter 2 of the Safe Streets Act. The grant have been designated the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) grants by their federal administrator, the Department of Justice's Violence Against Women Grants Office in the Office of Justice Programs. They are "to assist States, Indian tribal governments, and units of local government to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women, and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women."

This report reviews the available literature on the overlap of domestic violence and child maltreatment. Other topics include study-site selection criteria, study methodology, and efforts to integrate domestic violence concerns into child welfare agency practice in each community visited. The report summarizes and integrates findings from the site visits and literature review, and then it concludes with issues to consider and resolve.

This report describes the exceptional challenges faced by some families that make it difficult for them to seek employment or to sustain employment over the long term. This report summarizes information from case studies in eight state and local programs that have expanded the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program or have developed programs outside of the welfare system to address the needs of these families. Furthermore, the report examines the issues that are important to consider when designing such programs.

This paper answers these questions about the challenges welfare-to-work programs face as more of their Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) caseload becomes subject to work requirements: (1) What challenges will hinder a welfare recipient's move into employment? (2) What is known about the prevalence of barriers to employment? (3) When the presence of multiple barriers is considered, what fraction of the AFDC caseload is likely to experience at least one barrier to employment? (4) What is known about the relationship between work barriers and work experience? (5) What are the implications for designing and delivering welfare-to-work programs?

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