0070-Urban_Families ’ Connections to Services in an Alternative Response System qxd.qxd 12/5/06 10:59 AM Page C4n1 Families ’ Connections to Services in an Alternative Response System

This paper was produced with funds from the Assessing the New Federalism project at the Urban Institute. Assessing the New Federalism is a multiyear Urban Institute project designed to analyze the devolution of responsibility for social programs from the federal government to the states, focusing primarily on health care, income security, employment and training programs, and social services. Researchers monitor program changes and fiscal developments. Olivia Golden is the project director. In collaboration with Child Trends, the project studies changes in family well-being. The project aims to provide timely, nonpartisan information to inform public debate and to help state and local decisionmakers carry out their new responsibilities more effectively. Key components of the project include a household survey and studies of policies in 13 states, available at the Urban Institute’s web site