Preparing Nebraskas Welfare Clients for Work and Addressing their Obstacles Employment First Evaluation Synthesis Report

Blends quantitative and qualitative analyses to highlight welfare clients’ employment experiences and obstacles and related service delivery issues in rural and urban areas. Also discusses opportunities for Nebraska to enhance its welfare program. Rural clients were more likely than urban ones to participate in employment and educational activities and to receive certain benefits and services. They were also in more frequent contact with program staff, less dependent on TANF, and more likely to be employed and off TANF a year later. Nevertheless, partly due to the weaker economic base in rural communities, they were considerably less likely to find good jobs.