The authors examine the implementation of welfare reform based on site visits to 17 cities in 13 states. The analysis finds that many sites initially focused on implementing work-first programs, but broadened their approach over time to include a focus on hard-to-employ families and services for low-income working families. Many of the welfare agencies studied also expanded their message to emphasize employment and the temporary nature of welfare; developed new staffing patterns within the welfare office; forged relationships with workforce development agencies and nonprofit community-based organizations to promote work among welfare clients; and increased the use of performance-based contracting to manage these new relationships.