Does Incorporating Healthy Lifestyle Education into Welfare-to-Work Programs Make a Difference?

Abstract

Objectives: This pilot study evaluated a healthy lifestyle program within the Welfare-to-Work program to help high-risk participants transition from welfare to employment. Methods: Nineteen Latinas enrolled in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program for more than six months participated in a 12-week intervention including six hours of employment-related training (ERT), two hours of healthy lifestyle classes, and two 1-hour exercise classes each week for 12 weeks. The women completed a survey and an anthropometric evaluation at baseline, 4- and 10-month post-baseline. CalWORKs participation and employment data also were collected. Additionally, aggregate data were collected for a comparison group meeting the same eligibility criteria and not participating in the 12-week intervention. Results: From baseline to 4-month, blood pressure, waist circumference, and body mass indices all decreased. Participants showed higher participation in ERT-related activities than the comparison group during and after the 12-week intervention. Employment rates were greater among the intervention versus comparison group participants and they were more likely to obtain employment of 20+ hours per week. Conclusions: This type of program benefits individuals in the Welfare-to-Work program on employment-related outcomes.