The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) project to evaluate the effectiveness of innovative programs designed to boost employment and earnings among low-income Americans. Intended to build on previous research on the effectiveness of various employment strategies, the BEES project has the potential to fund up to 21 rigorous evaluations of promising programs serving recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or other, similarly low-income families. BEES will make a priority of evaluations of programs that are initiated by states and programs that serve adults whose employment prospects have been affected by opioid dependency, abuse of other substances, or mental health conditions. The goal of the project is to strengthen ACF’s understanding of evidence-supported programs that are effective in improving employment and economic security. The project is being conducted by MDRC, along with Abt Associates and MEF Associates. MEF Associates is co-leading site identification and recruitment, will lead work with specific sites and participate in the implementation study.
