Additional Program Information

Developer and contact

LEAP is administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and operated in Ohio counties as part of Ohio Works First. An example of county information on the program can be found at www.meigsdjfs.net/Ohioworks.htm, and the directory of Ohio county Job and Family Services agencies can be found at http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/cntydir. stm. The LEAP program began in 1989.

Cal-Learn is operated by the California Department of Social Services. Information on the program can be found at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/Cal-Learn_170.htm. The Cal-Learn program began in 1994.

Scope of use

Eight states operate welfare programs that include financial incentives for teen parents: California, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont. However, only LEAP (Ohio) and Cal-Learn (California) have studies of effects that meet WWC evidence standards. So, this WWC report focuses on these two programs (with detailed descriptions presented in Appendices A1.1 and A1.2).

Description of intervention

State welfare programs generally include services and activities designed to increase employment and earnings and reduce welfare dependence. For pregnant teens or teen parents, some states attempt to encourage enrollment, attendance, and completion of high school by providing financial incentives through the welfare grant. Welfare programs typically provide supplemental case management and support services along with the financial incentives.

Ohio's LEAP program provides $62 bonuses for monthly attendance and school year completion, $62 monthly sanctions for inadequate attendance, and a $200 bonus for high school completion or General Educational Development (GED) receipt. California's Cal-Learn program increases or decreases family support ($50 or $100) based on course grades and provides a $500 award for high school completion or GED receipt. Components currently implemented in the six other states with financial incentives for teen parents include a one-time bonus for high school completion or GED receipt ranging from $50 to $250 (Delaware, Kentucky, and North Dakota); bonuses based on grades, credits, and completion (Colorado); incentive payments to reward cooperation with schooling requirements in a minor parent's self-sufficiency plan (Oregon); and bonuses for finishing tasks related to high school completion or its equivalent (Vermont).

Cost

Costs for these programs arise from bonuses and sanctions to teens, completion bonuses, and case management services. In the LEAP study, the average cost per program group member was $2,256 (in 2005 dollars). ³ The study also found that administrative costs, support services (such as transportation and child care), and case management were the main expenses of the LEAP program because dollars paid out as bonuses were about the same as dollars saved because of sanctions. Information is not available on the cost of the Cal-Learn program.