This article reviews a project designed to provide welfare recipients working 20 hours a week with an education program at a local community college. The 24 week program included mathematics, English, computer skills, as well as life skills necessary for successful employment. This article is an evaluation of the program in terms of improving employment opportunities for welfare recipients.

Through MDRC's Opening Doors Demonstration and funded by state TANF dollars, New Orleans offers programs at two community colleges to offer scholarships for low-income parents. This article reviews early findings from the program and the positive effect that it has on helping improve outcomes for low-income families.

While community colleges provide opportunities for low-income and disadvantaged populations to receive higher education, the persistence to stay in such programs is low. From MDRC's Opening Doors Demonstration, this report reviews the effects of educational supports such as enhanced academic advising and increased financial aid to improve participation in community college programs.

This Urban Institute report by Carol De Vita and Eric Twombly describes the functioning of the nonprofit sector in the Pittsburgh area. The study was conducted for The Forbes Funds. The report addresses State and local government budget shortfalls, and the trend that more people in the Pittsburgh area are turning to such nonprofit organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and ARC of Allegheny County for help.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government has released "The State Personal Income Tax Recovers," State Fiscal News Vol. 4, No. 4. After two years of decline, state personal income tax revenue grew by 6.4 percent in the January-March 2004 quarter. This growth is found in all components of the PIT, including withholding and estimated payments. Final payments with April returns also appear to be strong.

The Center for Public Justice provides information and resources on Charitable Choice, including a "how-to" guide for federal, state, and local officials.

This paper is part of the work of the Rockefeller Institute of Government's Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy. Authored by Richard P. Nathan and David J. Wright.

This purpose of this policy announcement is to remind State agencies of the TANF Charitable Choice requirement.

Authored by Chelsea Farley. This issue brief describes the Philadelphia-based Amachi program, which partners faith-based organizations with public agencies and nonprofit service providers to identify children of prisoners and match them with caring adult volunteers.

This report explores the active role faith-based organizations are taking to better serve human, economic and neighborhood needs in their communities. The report is authored by John M. Wallace, Jr. PhD. of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work, Valerie L. Meyers, PhD. of the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, and Jim Holley, PhD. of the Historic Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church. In particular, the report notes that African-American churches have tended to take the lead in implementing holistic methods to solving community problems. It includes a case study of one such ministry that has been using a holistic approach to transform an inner-city neighborhood in Detroit.