New Hope Project
An Effective Practice
Description
The New Hope Project was a demonstration program created by community and business leaders and operated in Milwaukee from 1994 to 1998. Designed to be replicable by public assistance and government agencies, New Hope provided a unique combination of widely implemented work supports for low income individuals and families within one program: it offered participants job search assistance, transitional jobs, earnings supplements, and subsidized child care and health insurance. Participants were required to work at least 30 hours per week to earn these benefits (MDRC-New Hope).
Goal / Mission
New Hope provided full-time workers with several benefits: an earnings supplement to raise their income above poverty, low-cost health insurance, and subsidized child care. For those unable to find full-time work, the program offered help in finding a job and referral to a wage-paying community service job when necessary.
Results / Accomplishments
The findings show that work supports can have a range of positive effects on low-income families and their children. Although the economic effects on employment and income lasted for most families only during the three years in which New Hope operated, some effects on children lasted into the longer term. These include: increasing parents' use of center-based child care and positive effects on children's academic performance and test scores.
About this Promising Practice
Topics
Economy / Employment
Health
Education
Health
Education
Location
Wisconsin
For more details
Target Audience
Adults