Income alone doesn’t capture how families are really doing. In this brief, MEF Associates introduces a Multidimensional Hardship Index (MHI) that measures the range and intensity of hardship across five dimensions—economic security, education and training, health, standard of living, and relational resources—drawing on assessment data pilots already gather from participants. MEF developed the MHI for the Tennessee Department of Human Services as part of the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative evaluation, applying it to three pilots. The MHI shows that most participants entered facing hardship in several areas at once—such as unemployment, food insecurity, or poor health— not just low income, and that the type and intensity of need varied across pilots. Hardship declined over time at two of the three pilots, though health-related hardship often persisted. Other states and programs can use this approach to measure well-being in human services settings, capturing hardship that income-based measures miss. 

This brief documents the range of choices states have made that determine the amount of income families receive from TANF each month. We focus on three key areas: monthly TANF grants, earned income disregards and child support passthrough and disregards. While a majority of states have increased their monthly TANF grants since 1996, only 10 states have increased their grants enough to keep pace with inflation. Fourteen states provide the same or lower benefits than they provided in 1996.

Our newest release for state and local human services agencies is a comprehensive Toolkit for improving benefits coordination to support whole families. Funded by the Administration for Children and Families, our team partnered with The Urban Institute and The Adjacent Possible to develop and test this in-depth resource.  

Coordinating to Improve Family Experiences Toolkit: Resources for State and Local Human Services Agencies includes tools, assessments, activities, and original guidance to help agency leaders identify pain points for families involved with multiple programs; select and implement solutions; and track progress over time. An accompanying Facilitator’s Guide includes additional helpful materials, and a brief report details the Toolkit development process, as well as the pilots with seven sites.  

Our team of experts can work with state and local agencies to create a customized approach to using the tools and implementing the strategies in the Toolkit. Reach out today! 

This report examines the impact, implementation, and costs of a teacher salary increase pilot program in Colorado center-based child care and early education programs.

While the randomized controlled evaluation did not produce a statistically significant improvement in the primary measure of teacher retention at the end of the study period, it did result in a meaningful secondary impact: a statistically significant 10 percentage point increase in teacher retention approximately one year after implementation.

Findings also highlight strong program implementation, facilitated by several factors: (1) strong collaboration between state and external partners, (2) a simple program design that included a clear scale for the salary increase amounts, and (3) direct communication from state administrators to centers during the application process.

MEF Associates is pleased to share key findings from our program evaluation of two ambitious Detroit at Work initiatives: JumpStart and Skills for Life. These workforce development programs employed innovative strategies such as flexible training pathways, monthly stipends, community-based mentorship, and hybrid work and training schedules. Our mixed-methods evaluation highlighted significant successes, including high rates of training completion and employment, while also offering lessons learned and practical recommendations to support Detroit’s future workforce investments.

A new evaluation report and executive summary highlight a variety of positive outcomes associated with Allegheny County’s Child Care Matters Pilot Program. This program expanded child care subsidy access for families who would have otherwise been ineligible because their incomes were just above the state’s eligibility threshold. Findings suggest the program improved parents’ workforce participation, financial stability, and well-being, while also strengthening children’s development and supporting providers through more predictable enrollment and revenue.

This guide is designed to support Head Start programs in building and sustaining a father-friendly program culture.
Grounded in best practices and enriched by insights from a three-year partnership between Baltimore City Head Start, the Center for Urban Families, and researchers at MEF Associates, this guide offers practical steps, reflective questions, real-world examples, and helpful resources. 

MEF Associates partnered with the Sacramento County Department of Child Support Services and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento to evaluate the My Empowerment (M.E.) Project. Funded by the federal Office of Child Support Services, this three-year initiative encouraged teens and young adults to delay parenthood until after completing school, starting careers, and forming committed relationships.

Delivered in after-school settings and a juvenile detention facility, the program used lessons shaped by participant feedback. Topics included college and career readiness, financial literacy, and responsible parenting.

Our findings suggested youth were most engaged when lessons were interactive, relevant, and facilitated by trusted adults. Program staff played a pivotal role in creating safe and supportive spaces. These insights can guide youth-serving organizations and child support agencies in fostering long-term stability and healthy decision-making.