This is a challenging and an important time for low-income families. The United States is mired in a recession while Congress faces the reauthorization of assistance and support programs involving low-income families.To date, policy dis­ cussions have been fueled by analyses of individual aspects of the changes set forth by PRWORA and other legislation. This article synthesizes research findings from a single state, Iowa, and suggests that although low-income families in Iowa continue to struggle, the state has had success i n helping families move toward self-sufficiency.The success came from programs that emphasize flexibility with support and participant involvement.