Welfare reform and the future of foster care

In an effort to document the impact of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 on the lives of children, the authors conducted a study in Washington, D.C. and the adjacent states of Maryland and Virginia. Interviews with key informants indicate that there is little quantitative...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social thought (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 1999-01, Vol.19 (2), p.21-36
Main Authors: Rome, Sunny Harris, Slaght, Evelyn F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Availability
Child Care Services
child welfare
Child Welfare Services
Christianity
Contemporary period
Data
day care
Factors
Foster Care
General subjects
History and sciences of religions
Maryland
Poverty
Prospects
Social Responsibility
Sociological studies
United States of America
USA
Virginia
Washington, D.C
Welfare Policy
Welfare Recipients
Welfare Reform
Workfare
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Summary:In an effort to document the impact of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 on the lives of children, the authors conducted a study in Washington, D.C. and the adjacent states of Maryland and Virginia. Interviews with key informants indicate that there is little quantitative data available, even in states like Virginia where recipients are reaching the 2-year time limit. In Maryland, data are only available on those leaving welfare early, and the impact there on the child welfare system is reported as "minimal." Focus of the data is on employment success, and evades the effects of low wages, inadequate child care availability, teen parenting issues, kinship care, and inadequate services, especially for those with substance abuse, health and mental health problems. Although quantitative data are limited, qualitative data indicate that the mandate of "personal responsibility" may become a mechanism for revoking our social commitment to protect children.
ISSN:0099-183X
DOI:10.1080/15426432.1999.9960259