One aspect of the general rise in the number of single parent households is the high proportion of them that are headed by black women. Black families headed by women tend to be larger and are more likely to be impoverished. Contrary to popular belief, many black single mothers considered poor are employed women, not recipients of welfare. An…

This second edition of "Poverty Profile", published by the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle as part of their Campaign for Human Development, updates the data examined in the earlier (1972) edition and examines some of the current social welfare programs designed to alleviate the affects of poverty. The extent to which poverty…

This study is concerned with understanding the differences and similarities in the work orientations of poor people, welfare recipients and participants in federal work-training programs, as compared with the work orientations of middle-class families having steady employment. Data were gathered from more than 4,000 persons through work…

This brief summarizes the report, "Getting and Retaining Child Care Assistance: How Policy and Practice Influence Families' Experiences," examining subsidy policies and practices that affect subsidy utilization, including those that affect every interaction the parent has with the subsidy agency and those that affect the ease of applying…

This study examined young mothers' experiences with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), noting whether changes in the TANF application process for teens were needed and whether the Illinois Department of Human Services was effectively engaging teens in the TANF system. Working with community-based organizations around Chicago,…

This study of Utah single welfare parents attempts to respond to several questions. What are the characteristics of this population, especially with respect to self-sufficiency? For instance, what percentage of the population requiring child care, has completed job training, etc.? What segments exist in the population? What are the clusters of…

This 2000 study re-evaluated the type of child care information given to parents on public assistance by caseworkers. It assessed whether laws protecting low-income parents' rights were being followed and whether people on public assistance were receiving appropriate information about child care. The study was a follow up to a 1999 study.…

This report describes the degree and nature of hardship among low-income and poor working and nonworking families in a nationally representative sample of kindergartners--the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (Kindergarten Cohort). Five hardship indicators were examined: (1) lack of child health insurance; (2) child has not seen doctor at least…

Reviews six federally funded in-kind public assistance programs designed to mitigate effects of poverty on children: (1) food stamps; (2) the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children; (3) school nutrition programs; (4) Medicaid; (5) Head Start; and (6) housing assistance. Evidence indicates these programs achieve their…

Finds that, among 2,397 heads of poor Southern households in the March 1986 Current Population Survey, race and education were significant determinants of employment status in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, respectively. Age and receipt of welfare in the previous year were important factors in both areas. (SV)

Addresses the relationship of education and training to employment and how this discourse shapes policy and programs for public assistance recipients and dislocated workers. Problematic assumptions about how education and training affect employment are discussed, along with statistical data that raise questions about these assumptions. Race,…

Books in the Opposing Viewpoints series challenge readers to question their own opinions and assumptions. By reading carefully balanced views, readers confront new ideas on the topic of interest. Although some experts believe that the problem of teenage pregnancy has been overstated, other recent studies have led many people to believe that…

The Welfare Indicators Act of 1994 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to prepare annual reports to Congress on indicators and predictors of welfare dependence. This is the second of those annual reports. A family is defined as dependent on welfare if more than 50% of its total income in a 1-year period comes from welfare programs…

This report attempts to assemble data on the trends that are favorable or unfavorable to independence from welfare. Twelve such conditions are examined in this report, and they are summarized in table form, with an indication of the direction of the trend and comments. The information is also summarized in narrative form to give an idea of what…

Findings from recent evaluations of welfare-to-work programs and child development research suggest that welfare reform can affect children in multiple ways. These studies focused on three welfare-to-work programs that differ from those that will be implemented under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996…