Long regarded as the premier investigator of policies designed to improve the lives of low-income families on welfare, MDRC is bringing its research skills and reputation for methodological rigor to the new challenge of learning what works best to improve the economic and social health of low-income workers and communities.  more

Paying the Poor to Do Right Doesn’t Work. Or Does It? In this article reprinted from True/Slant, Chicago-based journalist Megan Cottrell takes a second look at MDRC’s recent report on early findings from New York City’s conditional cash transfer demonstration, Opportunity NYC-Family Rewards. Why Has the Poverty Rate Not Fallen Since the Early 1970s? MDRC Participating in Two Social Innovation Fund Projects MDRC’s Study of Conditional Cash Transfers in NYC Featured on NPR’s Morning Edition Brookings to Host July 12 Capitol Hill Forum on MDRC’s Study of Conditional Cash Transfers in NYC

How Effective Are Different Approaches Aiming to Increase Employment Retention and Advancement? Final Impacts for Twelve Models This report presents the final implementation and impact findings for 12 programs in the national Employment Retention and Advancement project, sponsored by the federal Administration for Children and Families. These programs attempted to promote steady work and career advancement for current and former welfare recipients and other low-wage workers, most of whom were single mothers. Toward Reduced Poverty Across Generations Early Findings from New York City’s Conditional Cash Transfer Program Creating a Platform for Sustained Neighborhood Improvement Interim Findings from Chicago’s New Communities Program Sustained Earnings Gains for Residents in a Public Housing Jobs Program Seven-Year Findings from the Jobs-Plus Demonstration