The past several years have seen basic changes in policies and programs concerning poverty, work, and workforce development. The essence of the changes is putting work first, and many states and localities are building "Work First" into welfare-to-work programs funded under Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and many are adopting…

Examines the stresses and strengths that define daily negotiated life experiences for women who are poor or working-class and African-American in urban America. Interviews with individuals in these communities show that these women see themselves as constantly negotiating borders of home/family/life and, at the same time, constantly carry…

Examined differences in divorced (n=1,916) and never-married (n=878) single mothers' decisions to participate in Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Divorced mothers were twice as likely to receive AFDC benefits as never-married mothers. Discusses differences in AFDC decision-making processes and suggests ways to move single mothers…

A research project investigated long-term literacy development and its economic impact among clients of a welfare-to-work program. A follow-up study was conducted with a sample of 920 former clients of Steps to Success's educational track, which consisted of a career and life planning course followed by adult literacy education. From the sample,…

Case studies of the shift of social services from federal to state governments have been conducted in 13 states. The focus of this report is on income support and social services in New York in 1996. Basic income support programs, programs designed to lessen the dependence of families on government-funded income support, and the last-resort safety…

This bibliography assembles a wide range of information on parental attitudes and behaviors that will help readers understand the needs of families, and especially low-income families, who use child care. Most of the books, reports, and journal articles described can be obtained from libraries. Topics addressed by these sources of information…

Based on the assumption that economic security is fundamental to children's well-being, this guide outlines the National Commission on Children's recommendations for making income security of families a national priority for the 1990s and indicates how the recommendations can be implemented. The Commission's income security package comprises six…

This hearing reviews testimony concerning H.R. 2246, the Jobs for Employable Dependent Individuals Act (JEDI). JEDI is a voluntary program whereby states receive additional funds to fight the problem of chronic welfare dependency and poverty. The bill would require the existing Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to target job training efforts at…

The objective of this paper is to draw upon available research in welfare dynamics to answer a set of questions regarding the use of public assistance. First, the length and pattern of dependency of welfare recipients are considered, to determine the distribution of caseloads between short term and chronic users of welfare. Second, the welfare…

The three year Vermont Experimental and Demonstration Project, sponsored by Manpower Administration, was designed to provide basic empirical data on the feasibility and usefulness of public service employment as a manpower tool to provide transitional employment opportunities for low income unemployed and welfare recipients. Data was collected on…

This brief updates an overview of welfare benefits and services in Texas in 1997, when House Bill 1863 and the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 first went into effect. Since 1997, Texas and 12 other states from the Assessing the New Federalism study have implemented many changes in social safety net…

This brief examines changes in Florida's welfare-to-work, child care, and child welfare systems since 1997, presenting information from visits conducted in 1999 and 2000. It profiles Florida's population, economy, and politics, reviewing its income support and social services safety net. Three sections detail current policies and recent changes in…

This brief summarizes information collected during visits to Massachusetts in 1999 and 2000 to document changes and progress since 1997, updating a 1997 report on the state's benefits and services and the economic and political context shaping Massachusetts' agenda for serving low-income families. It profiles Massachusetts' economy and population,…

This brief examines changes in Washington's welfare-to-work, child care, and child welfare systems since 1997, presenting information from visits to Washington in 1999 and 2000. It profiles Washington's demographic, economic, and political conditions, reviewing its income support and social services systems and highlighting recent changes,…

This newsletter is devoted to identifying and promoting strategies to reduce the young child poverty rate and to improve the life chances of young children living in poverty. The Spring 1998 issue includes articles on state investments to enhance the well-being of young children and families, and child poverty rates in a booming U.S. economy. The…