Higher Ed and International Relations Colloquium
March 6, 2012
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Public policy events at Rockefeller College and the University at Albany

The Institute joined the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to co-host the 49th National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics conference in Albany. The conference brought together representatives from federal, state, and local government, from universities, and from the private and nonprofit sectors, representing the full spectrum of human services programs, to discuss the latest on efforts to reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency. Much of the discussion involved questions about how the recession and federal stimulus package will impact state and federal roles in providing an adequate safety net for poor Americans.

Conference sessions are listed below in chronological order, with links to papers, slide presentations, and audio and video files, as available, accessible from the corresponding session.

MONDAY, JULY 13

Opening Plenary:  Welcome and Address   [Video]

• Dave Dlugolecki and George Falco (Co-Presidents, NAWRS).
  
• Kristin Proud (Deputy Director for State Operations, New York State Governor's Office).
  
• Thomas Gais (Co-Director, Rockefeller Institute of Government).
  
• Richard Nathan, pictured (Co-Director, Rockefeller Institute of Government). "Social Science Methods and Government Effectiveness"

Morning Plenary Roundtable Panel I:
The Economy and Its Consequences   [Video]

• Moderator: James Ziliak (University of Kentucky).
  
• Jason Bram (New York Federal Reserve). The Recession:  The Macro Picture
  
• Heidi Shierholz (Economic Policy Institute). The Recession and Jobs
  
• James Ziliak (University of Kentucky). Low-Income Families and the Safety Net
• Robert Ward, pictured (Rockefeller Institute). Effects on Government Revenues and Program Budgets
• Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates). The Recession and the Demand for Assistance

TANF Policies and Implementation: Effects

• Chair: Philip Klein (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families).
  
• Sam Elkin, Bret Barden, Kip Brown, Iris Chan (Lewin Group). Welfare Leavers in Colorado
• Haksoon Ahn (University of Maryland). Effects of Welfare Reform on Economic Well-Being in Low-Income Families: Are They Better Off After Welfare Reform?
• Linda Daugherty, Chris Hadjiharalambous (University of Tennessee).  Reaching the End of Cash Assistance? What's Next?
• Nick Kolupanowich, Valerie Head, Pamela Ovwigho, and Catherine Born (University of Maryland). Disconnected Leavers: Understanding the Circumstances of Those Who Leave Welfare Without Work
• Discussant: Marilyn Edelhoch (South Carolina Department of Social Services, retired).

Using the National Directory of New Hires

• Chair: Laura Wheaton (Urban Institute). 
  
• Dennis Putze (Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families).  The National Directory of New Hires: Overview, Child Support Enforcement, and Other Applications
• Ryan Martin, Holly Higgins (Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families). Using the National Directory of New Hires to Understand Employment Patterns of TANF Recipients and Improve Program
• Donald Ollerich (Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services). Employment and TANF Trajectories of Families Receiving TANF in 2001
• Cindy Redcross (MDRC). Evaluating Transitional Jobs Using NDNH data
• Discussant: Wade Horn (Public Sector Consulting, Deloitte Consulting).

Effects of SNAP/Nutrition Programs

• Chair: Carol Olander (US Department of Agriculture). 
  
• Constance Newman, Jessica Todd, Shelly Ver Ploeg (Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture). Getting with the Programs:  Changes in Use of TANF and Food Assistance since Welfare Reform
• Laura Tiehen and Margaret Andrews (Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture). The Effectiveness of SNAP Shelter Deduction in Equalizing Funds Available for Food Across Housing Markets
• Caroline Danielson (Public Policy Institute of California) and Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as a Work Support
• Thomas Vartanian, Linda Houser (Bryn Mawr College). Food Stamp Program Participation During Childhood: Does Neighborhood Context Influence Adult Health and Body Mass Index Outcomes?
• Discussant: Michael Wiseman (The George Washington University).

Issues In Transition Out of Foster Care

• Chair and Discussant:  Adrienne Fernandes (Congressional Research Service). 
  
• Michael Pergamit (Urban Iinstitute) and Erika Zielewski (Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Administration for Children and Families). Foster Youths' Connections to Relatives.
• Marla McDaniel (Urban Institute). Youths' Preparedness for Independent Living.
• Heidi Johnson, Marla McDaniel (Urban Institute). Comparing Parenting and Non-Parenting Female Foster Youth

Lunch and Roundtable: 
The ARRA:  Changes, Monitoring, and Assessments    [Summary]

• Moderator: Thomas Gais (Rockefeller Institute) 
  
• Gene Falk (Congressional Research Service). Legislation; Stimulus Affected Programs
• Liz Schott (Center for Budget and Policy Priorities). USDHHS Components
• Stephen Wandner. UI Modernization
• Carol Olander (US Department of Agriculture). SNAP Trends; How Do We Evaluate?
• Gale Harris (US Government Accountability Office). Monitoring the ARRA; Congressional Interests

Afternoon Panel Concurrent Sessions I:

Persons With Disabilities/Barriers to Employment
• Chair and Discussant: Lucie Schmidt (Williams College). 
  
• Lucie Schmidt (Williams College) and Sheldon Danziger (UM Ann Arbor). Supplemental Security Income Applications and Receipt After the 1996 Welfare Reform
• LaDonna Pavetti, Michelle Derr, Jaqueline Kauff, Allison Barret (MPR).
• Rachel Kirzner, Jodi Houlon (Public Health Management Corp.). Untreated Mental Illness in Long-Term TANF Recipients: Increasing Client Engagement into Treatment

Low-Income Men and Work: How Do We Move Forward?

• Chair and Discussant: Robert Doar (New York City Human Resources Administration).
  
• Larry Mead (New York University; American Enterprise Institute). Mandatory Work Programs for Fathers
• Elaine Sorenson (Urban Institute), Kenneth Braswell (New York State). New York State Fatherhood Initiative
• Daniel Schroeder (University of Texas). Texas NCP Choices Program

TANF Policies and Implementation: Income Support

• Chair and Discussant: Swati Desai (Columbia University).
  
• Caroline Danielson and Debbie Reed (Public Policy Institute of California). Sanctions and Time Limits in California's Welfare Program
  
• Linda Rosenberg, Michelle Derr, LaDonna Pavetti, Subuhi Asheer, Megan Angus, Samina Sattar, Jeffrey Max (Mathematica Policy Research). A Study of States' TANF Diversion Programs
  
• Kara D. S. Mitchell and Bryan Shone (University of Tennessee). Exploring the Relationship Between Progressive State Taxes and Welfare Caseloads
  

Housing and its Effects

• Chair and Discussant: Jim Riccio (MDRC).
  
• Ned English, Michael Latterner, Catherine Haggerty (National Opinion Research Center). An Analysis of Movers from Demolished Public Housing in Chicago
  
• Lisa Lee, Catherine Haggerty (National Opinion Research Center). The Effects of Relocation on Public Housing Residents in Chicago: Setting into the New Neighborhood.
  
• Michelle Ernst, Shannon Nelson (National Opinion Research Center). Neighborhood Safety and Leaseholder Characteristics
  
• Terri Smith-Caronia, Charles King (Housing Works). Housing in HIV Prevention and Care: New Research Findings
  

Afternoon Panel Concurrent Sessions II:

A United Kingdom Update: Child Poverty Targets and Disability Policy

• Chair and Discussant: Mark Greenberg (Georgetown University).
  
• Natalie Branosky (British Embassy, Washington). Targeting Child Poverty in the UK: An Update
  
• Michael Wiseman (George Washington University/US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service). Disability Policy Reform in the UK: A Comparative Perspective
  
• Doria Pilling (City University, London). US and UK Routes to Employment: Strategies to Improve Integrated Service Delivery to People with Disabilities
  

Home Visitation

• Chair and Discussant:  Karen Lynch (Congressional Research Service).
  
• Alicia Meckstroth, Andrew Burwick, Quinn Moor (Mathematica Policy Research). Home Investment: An Impact and Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Promising Home Visitation Program for High-Risk TANF Recipients:  Findings from the Rural Welfare-to-Work Evaluation
  
• Susan Mitchell-Herzfeld (Office of Children and Family Services, New York State). Findings from Healthy Families New York Randomized Control Trial 
  
• Debra Strong (Mathematica Policy Research). The National Cross-Site Evaluation of the Children's Bureau's Grantee Cluster: Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visitation Programs to Prevent Child Maltreatment
  

TANF Policies and Implementation: Services

• Chair and Discussant: Michael Bono (Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services).
  
• Christina Techico and Jeanette Hercik (ICF International), and Terry Hirschhorn (NJ Department of Human Services). Transportation, TANF, and Maximizing Self-Sufficiency through Comprehensive Work Supports
  
• Michelle Derr, Tara Anderson, LaDonna Pavetti (Mathematica Policy Research). Understanding Two Categories in TANF Spending: "Other" and "Authorized Under Prior Law"
  
• Lisa Montiel (Rockefeller Institute). One-Stop Services and the TANF Population
  
• Pamela Joshi (RTI International). The Third Wave of Employment, Child Support, and Family Support Interventions for Low-income Families
  

New Developments in Child Support

• Chair: Barbara Startz (Oklahoma Department of Human Services).
  
• Jocelyn Elise Crowley (Rutgers University), Galo Falchettore (The Russell Sage Foundation). The Effect of Child Suppport Enforcement on Abortion in the United States
  
• Chien-Chung Huang, Allison Blake, Richard Edwards, Chieh-Wen Liu, Robert Nolan, Barbara Rusen (Rutgers University), Dina Thompson (NJ Office of Child Support Services). Professional Knowledge of Child Support Staff: Evidence from the New Jersey Child Support Training Program
  
• Monique Rabideau (New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance). Child Support Obligors under Criminal Supervision
  
• Discussant: Kenneth Kickham (University of Central Oklahoma).
  

TUESDAY, JULY 14

Interest Roundtables

• Interest Roundtable #1: Child-Only Cases in TANF (moderated by Richard Speiglman).
  
• Interest Roundtable #2: Addressing the Needs of Unemployed Low-Income Families in Tough Economic Times (moderated by Liz Schott and Elizabeth Lower-Basch).
  
• Interest Roundtable #3: TANF and SSI (moderated by TANF/SSI project; see session on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.).
  

Morning Plenary

• David Hansell (Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Administration for Children and Families).
  

Morning Plenary Roundtable:
A New Federal-state Partnership for Social Programs?
[Summary]   [Audio]

• Moderator: Michael Wiseman (George Washington University/US Department of Agriculture).
  
• Mark Greenberg (Georgetown University).
  
• Irene Lurie (Rockefeller Institute).
  
• Wade Horn, pictured left (Public Sector Consulting, Deloitte Consulting).
  
• Russell Sykes (NY Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance).
  
• David Hansell, pictured right (U.S. Administration for Children and Families).
  

Lunch and Speaker

• Chair: Frank Mauro (Fiscal Policy Institute).
  
• Len Burman (Urban Institute). "Taxes, Tax Reform, and Support for Low-Income Families"
  

Afternoon Panel Concurrent Sessions I:

Training and Job Retention

• Chair and Contributor: Burt Barnow
  
• Burt Barnow (JHU). Overview Discussion and Reactor: Role of Training in Changing Economy
  
• Demetra Nightingale (Johns Hopkins), Lauren Eyster (Urban Institute), Karin Martinson (Urban Institute), John Trutko (Capital Research Corporation). Designing Job Training Projects in Troubled Economic Times
  
• Richard Hendra (MDRC). Three Promising Models for Increasing Employment Retention and Earnings for Low-Wage Workers
  
• Betsy Tessler, Cynthia Miller, Mark van Dok (MDRC). Work Advancement and Support Center Demonstration: Implementation and Impact Findings
  

ARRA:  Implementing an Effective Subsidized or Transitional Employment Program

• Chair and Discussant:  Michelle Derr (Mathematic Policy Research).
  
• Elizabeth Lower-Basch (Center for Budget and Policy Priorities). Ways to Access ARRA dollars
  
• Eva Greenwalt (Washington State). Community Jobs Program
  
• Amy Dvorak (Erie County). Erie County PIVOT Program
  

Building Government-Foundation Partnerships to Improve Economic Well-Being:  Issues and Options   [Audio]

• Moderator: Mark Greenberg (Georgetown University).
  
• Lola Brabham Harder, (New York State Governor's Office).
  
• Benita Melton, pictured (Mott Foundation).
  
• Mimi Corcoran (Open Society Institute).
  
• Michael Laracy, pictured (Annie E. Casey Foundation).
  
• Sara Watson (The Pew Charitable Trusts).
  

Strengthening Families Affected by Incarceration

• Chair: Kenneth Braswell (New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance).
  
• Anupa Bir (Research Triangle Institute). Implementing Family Strengthening Programs in Corrections Environments: Lessons from the National Evaluations
  
• Randi Blumenthal Guigui (Osborne Assn). Working with Corrections to Support Families Affected by Incarceration: The Osborne Association's Experience
  
• Alicia Smith-Roberts (New York Department of Corrections). Working with Community Agencies to Support Families Affected by Incarceration
  

Afternoon Panel Concurrent Sessions II:

Innovative Strategies for Increasing Self-Sufficiency (ISIS)
ISIS is a new project aimed at building next-generation knowledge on promising strategies for increasing employment and self-sufficiency among low-income families with children. In this session, state representatives will describe some of their most promising self-sufficiency programs (both already in place and in planning stages) and where research could be most helpful in designing effective programs. They will engage with audience in a discussion of opportunities for and challenges in conducting rigorous field tests of such strategies as part of the next generation of demonstration evaluation initiatives.
• Rebecca Maynard (University of Pennsylvania).
  
• Jeff Barnes (New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance).
  
• Julie Kerksick (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, invited).
  
• Brendan Kelly (Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation; Administration for Children & Families).
  

Making Work Pay for Fathers

• Chair: Dennis Putze (Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families).
  
• Elaine Sorensen (Urban Institute). Examining the New York EITC for Noncustodial Parents
  
• Lee Sapienza (New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance). Second Year Results from New York's EITC for Noncustodial Parents
  
• Laura Wheaton (Urban Institute). Extending the Federal EITC to Noncustodial Parents:  Potential Impacts and Design Considerations
  

State Data Needs and Uses

• Chair: George Falco (New York State). 
  
• Britany Orlebeke, Jennifer Haight (Chapin Hall). Teaching Social Services Administrators a Coherent Framework for Analyzing Program Outcomes: The Story of Advanced Analytics
  
• Joe DeMartino (NYC Human Resources Administration). A JobStat Update
  
• Jill Reynolds, Joe Baile, Kate Giapponi (PCG). Using Data Analysis to Inform State Contracting and Budgeting Processes
  
• Joseph Magruder (University of California, Berkeley). The Effects of Federal Child Welfare Pemanency Statutes: What can we Learn from Administrative Data?
  

The ARRA:  Maximizing Benefits from the Stimulus Package for Low-Income Families:  the View from the States

• Moderator:  Donna Pavetti (MPR).
  
• Barbara Guinn (New York).
  
• Vince Kilduff (Maryland).
  
• Linda Martin (South Carolina).
  

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

Concurrent Sessions:

Using a NAS Poverty Measure to Assess State Anti-Poverty Policies

• Chair: Sheila Zedlewski (Urban Institute).
  
• Mark Levitan (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity). Using the American Community Survey to Create a National Academy of Sciences Style Poverty Measure: Work by the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity 
  
• George Falco and Jihyun Shin. Developing a State-Level Measure:  Issues and Results
  
• Vajeera Dorabawila (Office of Children and Family Services, NYS). County Level Child Poverty in New York State: A Method for Past Estimates and Short-Term Projections. 
  
• Linda Giannarelli, Laura Wheaton, and Sheila Zedlewski (UI). Using Local Poverty Measurement in State Anti-Poverty Efforts
  

Immigrants, Welfare, and Related Issues

• Chair and Discussant: Irene Lurie (Rockefeller Institute).
  
• Rachel Frisk, Kay Brown, Heather Hahn, Theresa Lo, David Perkins (US Government Accountability Office). Implementation of the 1996 Welfare Reform Sponsor Deeming and Repayment Provisions Affecting Non-Citizen Applicants and Recipients of TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI
  
• Rosa Maria Castenda (Urban Institute), Richard Speiglman (Child and Family Policy Institute of California), Randy Capps (Migration Policy Institute). Immigrants and the Child Only Caseload
  

State Efforts to Modernize Delivery and Access to SNAP Benefits   [Summary]

• Chair: Gretchen Rowe (Urban Institute).
  
• Carol Olander (Food and Nutrition Service, US Department of Agriculture). FNS Introduction/Moderator
  
• Carolyn O'Brien (Urban Institute). National Overview
  
• Phu Cao, pictured (Department of Transitional Assistance). State-Specific Perspective: Massachusetts
  
• Russell Sykes (Deputy Commissioner, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance). State-Specific Perspective: New York
  

Child Care

• Chair: Mary Farrell (MEF Associates).  
  
• Erika Lundquist, Charles Michalopoulos, Nina Castells (MDRC). Final Results from a Random Assignment Study of Child Care Subsidy Copayments in Washington. 
  
• John Spears, Merve Gurlu (RESI of Towson University), Vince Kilduff (MD Department of Human Resources). Challenges of Forecasting the Storm: TANF and Childcare Subsidy in Maryland, 2007-2008
  
• Kay Casey, Maia Hurley (PCG). Supporting Kinship Care: Research and Strategies to Promote and Fund Placement with Relatives 
  
• Discussant: Britney Orlebeke (Chapin Hall).
  

Concurrent Sessions:

Peer TA Workshop: Implementing Effective Strategies to Mitigate the Effects of the Economic Recession

Early Findings from the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity

• Chair: Mark Levitan (New York City Center for Economic Opportunity).
  
• Carson C. Hicks. Findings for Programs for Low-Income Youth
  
• David S. Berman. Findings for Programs Targeting Workin Poor
  
• Kristin Morse. Uptake of Tax Benefits for Low Income Persons
  
• Discussant: Brendan Kelly (DHHS/ACF/OPRE)
  

Faith-Based and Community Organizations and Service Delivery

• Chair and Discussant: Pamela Winston (Mathematica Policy Research).
  
• Lisa Montiel (Rockefeller Institute). The Bush Faith-Based Initiative and Beyond
  
• Pamela Joshi (Research Triangle Institute). The Role of Religiosity in the Lives of Low-income Families
  
• Pamela Winston (Mathematica Policy Research). The Role of Faith Community Liaisons in Charitable Choice Implementation
  
• Fredrica Kramer (Independent Consultant). Faith-Based and Community Organizations as Default Responders in Times of Crisis
  

Food Security

• Chair and Discussant: Mike Fishman (President, MEF Associates).  
  
• Mark Nord, Heather Hopwood (US Department of Agriculture). A Comparison of Household Food Security in Canada and the United States
  
• Mark Nord (US Department of Agriculture), Anne Marie Golla (International Center for Research on Women). "And Then Things Got Worse": Food Insecurity in Households Approaching the Beginning of a Food Stamp Spell
  
• Alison Jacknowitz, Tracy Fox Salmons (American University), Laura Tiehen (US Department of Agriculture). Another Look at Whether WIC Works: The Effects of Participation on Investments in Prenatal Care and Birth Outcomes
  

Lunch/Business Meeting

• Chair: David Dlugolecki, Co-President, NAWRS (NYS OTDA).
  
• Speaker: Bruce Meyer, (University of Chicago). The Impact of the Economy on Poverty and the Income Distribution
  

The TANF/SSI Project

• Organizers:  Mike Fishman (Independent Consultant, Lewin Group), Brendan Kelly (Administration for Children and Families), John Tamborino (Social Security Administration).
  

Peer TA Workshop: Implementing Effective Strategies to Mitigate the Effects of the Economic Recession