This paper addresses the potential impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) on the incidence of child maltreatment. Potential risks include maltreatment related to poverty, loss of benefits because of sanctions or time limits, and problems finding child care. While the total number of substantiated cases of maltreatment decreased…

Presents a resiliency model of job training that emphasizes applicant recruitment, assessment, and development. The model can increase program success rates by using psychological assessment and professional development goals of the individual. Discusses the effectiveness of federal jobs training and the need for training versus the ability to use…

President Clinton has repeatedly called for a bipartisan welfare reform bill that is tough on work and responsibility, but not tough on children. This means providing adequate child care to enable recipients to leave welfare for work; rewarding states for placing people in jobs; guaranteeing health coverage for families leaving welfare for…

On December 11, 1997, the Child Care Action Campaign (CCAC) hosted an audioconference to explore the issue of how parents seeking to get off welfare can learn about subsidies available for child care in the transition from welfare to work. Presenters were Doug Baird, president of Associated Day Care Services in Boston, who discussed lessons of a…

This report provides information about programs that can be replicated and resources that can be tapped to design and implement strategies for helping women on welfare become productive employees. The first part describes major welfare programs in the United States and welfare-to-work programs initiated in selected states over the past several…

This report examines the experiences of homeless young parents with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which can be an important tool in helping them achieve long-term stability and economic self-sufficiency. The 1996 welfare reform act included special provisions that applied only to minor teen parents, requiring them to…

The goal of the WorkNet Model Career Development & Job Placement for people with barriers is to help even the most challenged job seekers begin and advance in careers they enjoy. This paper presents one key component of the WorkNet Model, a practical process for creatively overcoming any barrier a candidate faces. The chapter includes: the…

This paper analyzes the approaches that states can take to address the needs of families facing the loss of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits due to time limits. Ways in which these approaches can be funded with state or federal welfare funds are discussed. The paper examines how states can use federal TANF or state…

Research continues to provide valuable information about the effects of welfare changes on families receiving public assistance. This working paper is the second in a series of three examining what has been learned since the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. Following an introduction…

This conference examined the current welfare policy and the continued use of higher education as a tool for moving low-income people into self-supporting careers. The proceedings include: welcoming remarks by Stephen Greenwald; keynote addresses by William Spriggs and Danny Simmons; a lunch address by Rae Alexander-Minter; remarks by Patricia…

In response to federal welfare reform legislation, Arkansas created the Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program in April 1997. The goal of this Kids Count report is to increase awareness regarding issues underlying the early implementation of TEA, focusing on caseload reductions, demographic composition of the caseload, level of support…

Research continues to provide valuable information about the effects of welfare changes on families receiving public assistance. This working paper is the third in a series of three examining what has been learned since the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. Following an introduction…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996 revised laws governing privacy and confidentiality of information that government agencies collect from immigrants during the benefits application process. Noting that these changes evoked confusion and anxiety in the…

A homeless shelter in South Bend (IN) operates in the awareness that therapy, education, and all the tools of social work are not enough in working with the homeless. Disconnectedness, fear, and mistrust are combatted through a tough love approach that rehabilitates through personal transformation. (SLD)

Highlights program strategies to support families as they adjust to changes in welfare policy. Core strategies noted include using early childhood programs as a resource, adapting early childhood programs to better meet family needs, promoting access to high-quality child care, linking early childhood programs and welfare agencies, and creating…