As more families move from welfare to work, little is known about the implications of employment for family well-being. This survey and case study examined the effects of employment on the economic, social, and emotional well-being of parents, children, and families. Survey respondents received assistance through Iowa's Family Investment Program (FIP) and were not working during Spring 1999; case study participants received FIP and were not working during Summer 1998. The survey and case study findings indicated that parents could locate entry-level jobs, but many had considerable difficulty retaining employment. The most common challenges interfering with parent employment were child care problems, physical health, and family issues. Receipt of FIP, Medicaid, and food stamps decreased when parents were working. The proportion of parents and children with no health insurance increased when parents were working. Both total household income and expenses increased when parents were working, but overall, most parents experienced a higher standard of living. When employed, 40 percent of parents had higher self-esteem than when not working. Twenty-five percent of parents felt their parenting skills improved when they were working. Most parents were very satisfied with their child care quality. Family routines, children's social behavior, and children's school engagement did not change when parents gained employment. Finally, when employed, parents felt more stress due to household finances than from parenting or employment. These findings pose several implications for welfare policy. Two appendices detail the survey methodology and contain data tables. (Contains 20 references.) (KB)