While the first phase of the welfare to work research project focused on the compilation of a national inventory of welfare to work programs. The second phase sought to understand the complexities, resources, achievements, and failures of program implementation, from the experiences of four involved groups - program participants, program providers, employers and community representatives. The study sought to answer: what is occurring, from the perspective of those involved in the welfare to work implementation process and its outcomes? And in what manner do policy intentions match program realities?

Data collection consisted of focus group interviews and telephone questionnaires with all 4 groups in the communities of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Ottawa, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Surrey, British Columbia; and Yellowknife/region, Northwest Territories. A series of follow-up telephone interviews were carried out with program participants, accessing any social, economic, employment and familial changes since the first interviews. Also included were key informant interviews with senior policy analysts and administrators representing; three levels of government, anti-poverty groups, those with disabilities, aboriginal organizations and educational, employment and business sectors.

A National Inventory update capturing policy and program changes in all provincial and territorial welfare to work program information has been recently completed. Nunavut information has also been added.

A Research Note

In Phase 2, several research designs were incorporated including focus groups, telephone questionnaires, follow-up program participant interviews, key informant interviews, an updated national welfare to work inventory, various secondary data collection analysis and an on-going literature review. A pilot study was completed and assisted in the design and content of data collection instruments.

This study focused on the welfare to work experiences of program participants, program providers, employers and community representatives from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador; Halifax , Nova Scotia; Ottawa, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Surrey, British Columbia and Yellowknife/region, Northwest Territories. The choice of these communities involved a review of the Phase 1 National Welfare to Work Inventory. The Phase 1 Inventory information assisted in choosing communities based on criteria such as a variety of welfare to work program interpretations and differing stages of program implementation.

Sample size and design normally included,

Program Participants:

• 10-12 program participants in each focus group
• Approximately 30 telephone interviews.
• National TOTAL = 6 community based focus group data
• 164 completed telephone questionnaires

Program Providers :

• 10-12 program providers in each focus group.
• Approximately 20 telephone interviews.
• National TOTAL = 6 community based focus group data
• 119 completed telephone questionnaires

Employers :

• 10 -12 employers in each focus group
• Approximately 18 telephone questionnaires
• National TOTAL = 6 community based focus group data
• 107 completed telephone questionnaires

Community :

• 10-12 community representatives in each focus group
• Approximately 20 telephone interviews.
• National TOTAL = 6 community based focus group data
• 122 completed telephone questionnaires

Last Revised: Tue, Dec 11, 2001

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