FYI

MDRC has released a "Fast Fact" with the researched answer to the following 
question:

What Is the Best Way to Move Welfare Recipients into Work?
·       Help welfare recipients find jobs quickly?
or
·       Enroll welfare recipients in education or training programs before 
they look for jobs?

Nearly two decades of highly credible research using random assignment 
methods demonstrates that neither approach alone works best to increase 
welfare recipients' employment and earnings and to reduce their welfare 
receipt. Instead, the most effective strategy is to employ a combination of 
the two — a "mixed" approach.

See http://www.mdrc.org/area_fact_18.html for a brief summary and a link to 
a seven-minute online video about the research.

The summary report of the research can be found at 
http://www.mdrc.org/publications/52/summary.html