Many eligible persons, especially those with the lowest incomes and the greatest need for assistance, are precluded from receiving benefits because of program inaccessibility. The problem of inaccessibility and nonparticipation is examined. Action by policymakers to help solve this problem is called for. (Author)

Presents results of a study using national survey data that indicates that maternal employment in families that had previously received welfare does not hurt children's social or cognitive development and may improve their situations. Outcomes were better for those whose mothers earned higher wages. (SLD)

Suggests four criteria (efficiency, return on investment, incentives, and equity) for evaluating and comparing public programs for poor children, and provides an overview of information available on eight large federal programs using these criteria. Positive effects of some programs are noted, and policy recommendations the evidence supports are…

Study of one state's first-time welfare recipients found less evidence of welfare dependency than previously reported. Argues that client self-sufficiency hinges on an investment strategy in education, work preparedness, job training, and public-sector jobs, along with the provision of supportive services, such as child care. (RJM)

This interview study assessed the perspectives of low-income single mothers on selecting child care and their parent involvement experiences in Head Start. Findings indicated that collaboration between mothers and Head Start teachers enhanced mothers' self-development and learning with resulting positive effects for children, adult development as…

Examines effects of rural urban differences on duration of welfare use. Reveals that welfare recipients in areas of population sparsity are more likely to exit welfare, regardless of household, demographic, and welfare characteristics. Suggests perceived stigma, patterns of social interaction distinguish between rural and urban welfare recipients.…

Examined extent of intergenerational welfare use, strength of the association across generations, and reasons underlying such a dynamic, utilizing nationally representative data set of American households (n=13,017). Three-quarters of welfare recipients do not grow up in households that received welfare. Parent economic background, not welfare use…

Reviews child welfare research studies and discusses empirical literature on relationships among race, services, and outcomes in selected child welfare domains. Provides summary of previous research. Presents conceptual and methodological considerations for future research on role of race in child welfare and development of culturally competent…

Investigated household arrangements of adolescent mothers. Data from 1980 U.S. Census showed that arrangements varied by marital status, race/ethnicity, age, number of children, and central city residence. Found differences by race/ethnicity in how other variables related to household arrangements. Household arrangements were related to school…

Presents empirical evidence of an important benefit of education: reductions in welfare incidence. Compares cross-sectional data for black women during the late 1960s and the early 1980s. Findings show a strongly negative relationship between educational attainment and welfare incidence in both cross-sections in several statistical analyses. The…

Because welfare entitlements are increasingly unpopular, social work advocates need to place greater emphasis on job growth and alternate mechanisms for wealth redistribution, including refundable tax credits for working poor people. The Internal Revenue Code can be an effective weapon in combating poverty if antipoverty approaches in the code are…

Highlights issues in funding, service availability, child care services, and mandated participation in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) training program. Suggests full implementation of the Family Support Act of 1988 and the expansion of other income supports for low-income families rather than further development of welfare benefits…

Two Canadian studies of 1,786 welfare recipients found that (1) they were deterred from seeking employment and training by perceived barriers and negative self-image; and (2) employment agencies were hampered by lack of information and interagency partnerships as well as poor coordination of assessment and counseling. (SK)

Reviews education and training aspects of Clinton proposals and recommends funding of prenatal care, Head Start, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); parenting training for WIC, Head Start, and welfare recipient parents; revival of career education; expansion of cooperative education and tech prep; assessment of national standards and…

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth indicate that the likelihood of permanently leaving Aid to Families with Dependent Children decreased with the length of time that women received benefits, and was also affected by marital status, number of children, educational attainment, job-related skills, employment experience, and the…