Welfare to Work: Measuring Outcomes for JOBS Participants

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) and the states' use of outcome measurements for the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program, focusing on: (1) HHS progress in measuring the employment status of JOBS participants at the national level and setting national goals against which program performance will be measured; (2) the extent to which states are measuring participant outcomes and setting performance goals; and (3) the major issues that should be considered in measuring JOBS participant outcomes and setting performance goals.