Enrollment of noncustodial parents has been especially difficult. The scale of programs remains modest. Survey respondents report receiving more funding, but they have formulated more conservative participation targets than a year ago.
Grantees emphasize unsubsidized jobs but set realistic placement goals.
They expect to place somewhat less than half of all enrollees in unsubsidized employment. Most placements to date have been in service and administrative support positions that participants can get with limited skills and poor work history. Legislative changes to broaden the original eligibility criteria and expand the target population may increase the scale of program operations, but most grantees have not yet been allowed to implement these changes. Findings from an in-depth evaluation of specially selected study sites will be issued over the next several years. Later reports on more extensive follow-up and the complete evaluation sample will be available in 2002 and 2003.