Evaluation Design for the Next Phase Evaluation of the Assets for Independence Program, Final Data Review

The Assets for Independence Act of 1998 created the Assets for Independence (AFI) Program— a program that enables community-based nonprofits and government agencies to implement asset-building programs for low-income families. This program, which is administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), uses special-purpose matched savings accounts, called individual development accounts (IDA), to incentivize asset accumulation among low-income individuals and families. In line with the legislative mandate, AFI has been evaluated using both a quasi-experimental three-year longitudinal study and a qualitative process study. While this evaluation answered a number of key research and policy questions, including the effect of AFI program participation on short-term savings and asset accumulation, it did not address noneconomic outcomes (e.g., civic, psychological, and social), long-term effects, or the cost-effectiveness of the AFI program.This report informs the development of the next phase evaluation of the AFI program through a review and assessment of existing data sets that could be either directly used in a future study or inform the design of such a study. The report identifies the strongest of these data sets based on a set of explicit criteria, identifies gaps in information, and presents recommendations for filling those gaps. It also presents a discussion of lessons learned concerning data issues in IDArelated research projects and how those lessons can inform the next phase of the AFI evaluation.