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What's New from the Welfare Reform Academy
Acceptance remarks November 17, 2022
Bridget Terry Long
Testimony on Poverty Measurement, House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Work and Welfare October 24, 2023
Douglas J. Besharov
Why We Shouldn't Bemoan the Loss of the Expanded Child Tax Credit September 27, 2023
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
The Oxford Handbook of Family Policy Over the Life Course, March 2023
Mary Daly, Birgit Pfau-Effinger, Neil Gilbert, and Douglas J. Besharov, editors
Introduction: European and US Experiences with Labor Activation, November 2022
Douglas Besharov and Douglas Call
Work and the Social Safety Net: Labor Activation in Europe and the United States, November 2022
Douglas Besharov and Douglas Call, editors
Rigorous Impact Evaluation in Europe, Evaluation Review, July 2022 [PDF]
By Douglas Besharov and Gian Paolo Barbetta  
Excess Partisanship and the Cost of Big Budget Bills, The Hill, February 7, 2022
Douglas Besharov and Douglas Call
Joe Manchin Has a Point: Means-Testing Would Make 'Social Infrastructure' Bill Affordable, The Hill, November 9, 2021
Douglas Besharov and Douglas Call
Call for Nominations for the 2024 Rossi Award
 
Call for Nominations for the 2023 European Rossi Award
 
Testimony on the Reduction of Child Poverty, House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, March 11, 2020 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov  
PROTOCOL: Early Childhood Education Programs for Improving the Development and Achievement of Low-income Children: A Systematic Review, 2020 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Douglas M. Call, and Jason M. Scott  
Poverty in the US and Its Causes, November 11, 2019 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call  
UMD Summer Course: Program Evaluation and Applied Policy Analysis
Paris, France, July 1-13, 2019  
Meta-Evaluation of "Do State TANF Polices Affect Child Abuse Policies", 2018 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Neil Gilbert, Douglas M. Call, and Jason M. Scott  
UMD Summer Course: Comparative Policy Analysis and Practical Program Evaluation
Paris, France, July 3-20, 2017  
UMD Summer Course: Understanding and Synthesizing Evidence-Based Research
Paris, France, June 2-16, 2018  
Testimony on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, April 4, 2017 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Modern Performance Measurement: Monitoring Program "Outcomes" Instead of "Impacts", January 20, 2017 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Using Logic Models to Strengthen Performance Management, January 20, 2017 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Rethinking Expanded WIC Eligibility and Enrollment, R Street Policy Study No. 76, December 2016 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Summer Institute on Program Evaluation
CEU, Budapest, Hungary, July 18-22, 2016  
The Expansion of WIC Eligibility and Enrollment: Time to Re-Think Policies and Practices, 2016 (Updating a 2009 report) [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Testimony on Labor Activation European Practices, House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, November 17, 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Discouraging Marriage: The hidden cost of means-tested government benefits,The Weekly Standard, September 21, 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Neil Gilbert
Marriage Penalties in the Modern Social-Welfare State, R Street Policy Study No. 40, September 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Neil Gilbert
A Focus On Results, Accenture, September 2015 [PDF]
Gary Glickman and Douglas J. Besharov
Declining Labor Force Participation and the Expanding Social Safety Net, 2015 Index of Culture and Opportunity, The Heritage Foundation, August 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Social Impact Bonds, Pay-for-Success, and Education Programs
University Club, Tuesday, July 14, 2015  
Reconceiving SNAP: Is Nutritional Assistance Really Income Support? Research on Social Work Practice, June 15, 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Testimony on SNAP, House Committee on Agriculture, February 25, 2015 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Implementing the SNAP Pilot Projects to Reduce Dependency and Increase Work Levels, April 10, 2014 [PDF]
Co-Sponsored by the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the Secretary's Innovation Group, Hosted by Mathematica Policy Research
Recent Developments in Labor Activation in Denmark, December 5, 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Recent Developments in Disability Policy in the Netherlands, November 26, 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Recent Developments in Labor Activation in the United Kingdom, September 9, 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Testimony on the War on Poverty, U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Budget, July 31, 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Teaching in Today's Global Classroom: Policy Analysis in Cross-National Settings, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Summer 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Jennifer Oser
Testimony on Labor Activation Policies in the OECD, House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, February 28, 2013 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Testimony on the Use of Technology to Improve Administration of SSI, House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, July 25, 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Social Impact Bonds: What's the buzz about?, May 11, 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
Inside a Social Impact Bond Agreement - Exploring the Contract Challenges of a New Social Finance Mechanism, May 3, 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
Defining Terms in a Social Impact Bond Agreement, May 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
Social Impact Bonds and Government Contracting, May 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
Fact Sheet: Social Impact Bonds - A Brief Introduction to a New Financing Tool for Social Programs, April 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
Social Impact Bonds 101, March 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
What Are Social Impact Bonds?, March 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov, Jitinder Kohli, and Kristina Costa
"Pay-for-Success" Bonds Gain Adherents, February 2012 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Jitinder Kohli
Testimony of Douglas J. Besharov on TANF before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, September 8, 2011 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Testimony of Douglas J. Besharov before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, April 7, 2011 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov
Welfare States Amid Economic Turmoil: Adjusting Work-oriented Policy, Policy & Politics, 2011 [PDF]
Neil Gilbert and Douglas J. Besharov
The Global Budget Race, Fall 2010 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
JPAM Classics: Poverty, Welfare, and Public Policy - Introduction, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, October 8, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Presidential Address — From the Great Society to Continuous Improvement Government: Shifting From "Does It Work?"" to "What Would Make It Better?"", Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 28, No. 2, March 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
The Expansion of WIC Eligibility and Enrollment: Good Intentions, Uncontrolled Local Discretion, and Compliant Federal Officials, March 5, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Testimony on Building a Foundation for Families: Fighting Hunger, Investing in Children, U.S. Congress, House Budget Committee, February 12, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Not Enough "Change" in the Stimulus Bill, February 10, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Head Start Falls Further Behind, February 8, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Income Transfers Alone Won't Eradicate Poverty, The Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 37, No. 4, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Lessons from the 2008—2009 Recession: Response to Plotnick, The Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 37, No. 4, 2009 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Presidential Address — From the Great Society to Continuous Improvement Government: The Hopes of an Impatient Incrementalist (As Delivered), November 7, 2008 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
The New Kindergarten: The case for universal pre-kindergarten isn't as strong as it seems, Fall 2008 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Forum: Preschool Puzzle: As State after State Expands Pre-K Schooling, Questions Remain, Fall 2008 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Craig Ramey
Social Welfare Conservatism , January 2008 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Two Cheers for American Welfare Reform - Lessons Learned, Questions Raised, Next Steps, 2008 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
The Right Kind of Hand Up, November 19, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
UMD/AEI Poverty Tabulator User's Guide (Draft), November 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov, John Coder, and Gordon Green
The Rio Grande Rises , October 1, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Poverty Update: The Long-Term Story behind the New Numbers , September 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Federal and State Child Care and Early Education Expenditures (1997-2005): Child Care Spending Falls as Pre-K Spending Rises , September 4, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov, Caeli A. Higney, and Justus A. Myers
Cost Per Child for Early Childhood Education and Care: Comparing Head Start, CCDF Child Care, and Prekindergarten/Preschool Programs (2003/2004), August 31, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov, Justus A. Myers, and Jeffrey S. Morrow
Testimony on Measuring Poverty in America, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, August 1, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Giving Head Start a Fresh Start, June 29, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Caeli A. Higney
Testimony on Early Care and Education, Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, June 27, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Head Start: Mend It, Don't Expand It, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Caeli A. Higney
Head Start: Reply to Barnett and Currie, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Caeli A. Higney
Nonpoor Children in Head Start: Explanations and Implications, 2007 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Jeffrey S. Morrow
Beyond the Safety Net: A Brief Review Forty Years after the War on Poverty, November 3, 2006 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Federal and State Child Care Expenditures (1997-2004): Rapid Growth Followed by Steady Spending, September 1, 2006 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Caeli A. Higney
Two Cheers for Welfare Reform, August 15, 2006 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Child Care Data in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP): Inaccuracies and Corrections, June 5, 2006 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov, Jeffrey S. Morrow, and Anne Fengyan Shi
Poor America, March 24, 2006 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Rethinking Child Care Research, 2006
Douglas J. Besharov and Jeffrey S. Morrow, eds.
Head Start's Broken Promise, October 2005 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov
Full-Engagement Welfare in New York City: Lessons for TANF's Participation Requirements, August 2004 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Peter Germanis
Reconsidering the Federal Poverty Measure, June 14, 2004 [PDF]
By Douglas J. Besharov and Peter Germanis
The Role of Career and Technical Education: Implications for Federal Policy, Revised May 2004 [PDF]
By Marie Cohen and Douglas J. Besharov
Toughening TANF, March 23, 2004 [PDF]
Douglas J. Besharov and Peter Germanis analyze likely state responses to Congressional proposals reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform law.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
Child abuse training videos available. CEUs available.
 
Family Well-Being After Welfare Reform, 2002 [PDF]
Since 1994, welfare rolls have decreased by almost 60 percent nationwide. Are low-income children and their families better off—or worse off—after welfare reform? This volume explores concerns across a broad range of areas, identifying the relevant data sets, surveys, and other materials that could aid this assessment. Authors include Richard Bavier, Harold S. Beebout, Douglas J. Besharov and Peter Germanis, Richard J. Gelles, Julia B. Isaacs, Lorraine V. Klerman, Wendy D. Manning, Peter H. Rossi, Patricia Ruggles and Matthew Stagner, Isabel V. Sawhill, Lawrence W. Sherman, and John C. Weicher


The Welfare Reform Academy is an educational institution designed to help state and local officials, private social service providers, and other interested parties understand best practices in dealing with poverty and child welfare issues. The Welfare Reform Academy is a project of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.
 


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