A random sample was chosen from the 3,564 persons who left AFDC or W-2 between January and March, 1998. Those included in the survey group comprise about 17 per cent of the total, she said. About 125 persons already have been interviewed since the survey began Aug. 21. About 600 persons will be contacted within the next several weeks. A final report is expected in late-October if there are no complications, she said.
Participation is voluntary.
Stewart's agency administers the W-2 program statewide and commissioned the University of Wisconsin Survey Research Laboratory to conduct the telephone surveys. The design phase of the project began in June, and is based on a modified version of a survey that was used in South Carolina. Those for whom English is not a primary language are being contacted by interviewers with knowledge of those languages. Stewart said those who chose not to participate in W-2 still may enroll in the program, if they have had second thoughts or their situation has changed since they made their earlier decision. Anyone who returned to the program after June 30 will be dropped from the study.