The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1981 and the 1988 Family Support Act (FSA) have made workfare programs an integral part of the American welfare system. The OBRA and FSA required states to mandate participation in a Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) for recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).

This paper reviews the experience with workfare programs in the past 25 years. The paper summarizes their results, including positive and negative aspects of the programs, and identifies some key issues and unanswered questions from this experience. The authors conclude with suggestions toward a more viable direction of welfare reform.