This page contains links to a number of welfare related sites on the web. Our intent is not to provide a comprehensive list of all available materials, but rather to provide several starting points for individual research.
Each of the following sites contains important information for designing, implementing, and evaluating welfare programs. The sites are grouped under the following headings:
| Federal Sites | Top of this Page |
An HHS agency, ACF oversees agencies such as the Office of Family Assistance, the Children's Bureau, and the Administration for Children Youth and Families. This site provides links to and information about these agencies, statistical information, federal announcements about TANF, welfare reform demonstrations, as well as a comparison of the new and old welfare laws.
ACF Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)
Within ACF, OPRE is responsible for developing, monitoring and evaluation programs designed to make measureable improvements in the economic and social well-being of America's children and families. Their website details present, past, and future programs, and provides TANF and AFDC data analyses, including participation rates.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
Part of HHS, ASPE is responsible for legislative and budget development, strategic planning, policy research and evaluation, and economic analysis. This site provides studies on issues such as children and youth policy, economic support for families, and reinventing government, federal guidelines for programs, summaries of the 1996 welfare law, statistical information, and HHS program evaluation information.
| State and Local Sites | Top of this Page |
The official page for NGA, this site provides information and analysis of current state and federal programs (with special regard as to how they affect states). The site contains issue briefs by NGA, policy proposals, testimony before NGA, federal and state legislation and regulations, and links to federal, state, and local agencies.
NACo's web page provides information and policy analysis with special regard to county needs. The site highlights commentary, issues, legislation, regulations, court cases, programs, news stories, official reports, opinion papers, organizations, and key people for state and federal programs.
| Policy Research, Analysis, and Advocacy | Top of this Page |
A public policy think tank, AEI research covers a number of welfare topics. The site provides selected AEI scholar op-eds, columns, analysis, abstracts of AEI scholars’ books, research highlights, as well as testimony given by AEI scholars before Congress.
APSHA is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization whose members include state, territorial, and federal agencies concerned with human services. The site provides information on current developments in human service programs and policy, summaries of state TANF plans, and links to affiliate groups.
The Center conducts research on government policies and programs particularly those affecting low- and moderate-income people. The site provides Center papers, which analyze state and federal programs, as well as offer policy proposals.
CDF is a nonprofit children's advocacy organization. The site provides information, analysis, and proposals for child related policy and programs as well as information about current developments in child welfare law.
A non-profit organization, CLASP "seeks to improve the economic conditions of low-income families with children and secure access for the poor to our civil justice system" through research and advocacy. The site provides access to CLASP publications dealing with block grant provisions, child support, and early implementation of the 1996 welfare law. Adobe Acrobat is required to download some documents.
The Foundation advocates policies and programs "based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense." The site provides access to Foundation papers and publications, current events, news and commentary, and a clearinghouse for conservative policy groups. Adobe Acrobat is required to download many documents.
A nonprofit research organization, the Institute conducts research and policy analysis on a number of welfare related issues. The WPC provides issue analyses, charts, articles, and highlights new welfare programs that appear to be successful.
The Institute is a "center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States." The site provides access to research and Institute publications as well as links to poverty related resources. Adobe Acrobat is required to download some documents.
The Center focuses on the causes of poverty, particularly changes and inequalities in labor markets, family and children policy, and the effects of the concentration of poverty, and the policies used to deal with them. The site provides Center papers, policy briefings, and newsletters that deal with a range of poverty issues.
MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that concentrates on welfare-to-work programs, "building a stronger workforce through training, revitalizing low-income communities, and improving secondary education for at-risk youth." The site provides summaries of MDRC studies. Adobe Acrobat is required to download some documents.
MPR "conducts public policy research and surveys for federal and state governments as well as private-sector clients." The site provides research, data, and analysis on a number of welfare topics such as labor, education, health, and welfare as well as program evaluation guidance. Adobe Acrobat is required to download some documents.
Policy.com's welfare reform and welfare-to-work pages
Policy.com, a broad-based policy website, offers welfare reform and welfare-to-work pages providing access to reports, statistics, and background on federal and state legislation and welfare-to-work requirements, as well as numerous analyses and proposals.
Focusing on welfare reform and "New Federalism", the Research Forum provides a database of large and multi-state research projects that analyze the impact of welfare reform as well as state reform efforts.
A nonprofit policy research organization, the Institute "investigates the social and economic problems confronting the nation" and the policies and programs designed to alleviate them. This site provides Institute studies and research concerning public and private welfare related programs. Adobe Acrobat is required to download some documents.
"A clearinghouse for information, policy analysis, and technical assistance on welfare reform," WIN is the most comprehensive source of welfare research, studies, data, and information available on the web. WIN also provides the most extensive list of welfare links available.
| Congressional Documents | Top of this Page |
The site provides a searchable database of committee reports, documents, prints, testimony, and bills, from 1988 to the present. Searches are performed by document number, subject, speaker, and committee. To search the database, click on the "Congressional Publications" icon. This site may not be accessible for some users.
A Library of Congress resource, Thomas provides information about current congressional floor activities, summaries, status, and texts of bills, access to the Congressional Record, committee information, historical documents, and links to congressional committees.
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