The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF), Fragile Families and the Impact on the Emotional Well-Being of Children.

摘要

The effects of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 continue to be a subject of study for policy makers and community leaders. The incorporation of two separate initiatives for the promotion of marriage and the involvement of the father for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are two aspects that have significantly changed the face of the program, both with the intention of helping the participants achieve self-sufficiency. As a result, initiatives such as these have impacted the well-being of the children in these families. Recent research is beginning to take into the account the effects of welfare reform on the well-being of children. I analyze results from a sample from the 2001 Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), conducted by the Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing (CRCW) and explore child well-being in light of TANF receipt, relationship of the mother with the biological father and father involvement. I use correlations to determine statistically significant relationships between all variables and a regression with four models to examine the differences between TANF receipt, the mother's relationship to the father and father involvement and child well-being. TANF receipt continues to negatively correlate with child well-being, given the conditions of poverty necessary to be eligible for TANF assistance. However, improving father involvement and mother's education will increase child well-being regardless of TANF receipt. According to these results, marriage promotion policies will not increase child well-being for TANF families.