Social Development Studies (SDS) research table series: Dr. Tracy Peressini

This presentation will provide an overview of the results of an evaluation of an innovative family support program for single‐parent families on welfare in Canada. The Families First Program is a program of intensive case management that is composed of a triptych of health, employment and recreational supports. Using data from this longitudinal case‐control evaluation of the Families First Program this presentation will provide a comprehensive profile and summary of the results of this multi‐year study of children in Canadian single‐parent welfare families. Through a series of bivariate, multivariate and graphical analysis, we demonstrate the impact of direct recreational supports on children's health, family functioning and educational achievements. The findings of the study clearly indicate the effectiveness and efficacy of recreational supports in combating the deleterious effects of extreme poverty on children.