Access to quality child care profoundly impacts the life chances of low-income single mothers and their children. Tennessee is among the top 10 states with the worst poverty numbers for children, with a poverty rate of 31% for children under six years old. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) sets forth guidelines adopted by state…

This article examines how parents supported their children's education while transitioning from welfare to work. Interviews with parents, elementary school educators, and staff at a community-based organization were conducted in an urban Tennessee community. Navigating work and parenting responsibilities was particularly challenging when children…

Welfare reform legislation in Tennessee provided adult basic education classes for welfare recipients whose literacy skills were below ninth grade. Although more than half of those eligible enrolled in adult basic education, many dropped out. The Completion Bonus, a cash incentive program, was instituted to encourage the completion of education…