3 Safety Net Improvements That Could Help Keep Families Together

Posted at https://talkpoverty.org/2016/09/01/3-safety-net-improvements-help-keep-families-together/ September 1, 2016 | Megan Martin & Shadi Houshyar (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) There is a common narrative about the families who are involved with child welfare systems—one that portrays parents as abusive and unfit (or unwilling) to care for their children. … Continued

‘People In Poverty Do Work’: What Paul Ryan Misunderstands About Poverty

From the Center for American Progress (http://www.americanprogress.org): August 26, 2016 | Stephanie Land Posted at https://talkpoverty.org/2016/08/26/people-poverty-work-paul-ryan-misunderstands-poverty/ In this March 1, 2016, photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., joined by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks at a news conference … Continued

The Libertarian Case Against the 1996 Welfare Law

From the Center for American Progress (http://www.americanprogress.org): August 23, 2016 | Samuel Hammond Posted at https://talkpoverty.org/2016/08/22/everything-wanted-know-1996-welfare-law-afraid-ask/ (AP Photo) In the years after former President Bill Clinton signed the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act and “ended welfare as we know it,” … Continued

Rep. Doggett: ‘It’s Time to Fix the Broken Welfare System’

Posted at https://talkpoverty.org/2016/08/22/rep-doggett-time-fix-broken-welfare-system/ August 22, 2016 | Representative Lloyd Doggett (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) Twenty years ago today, legislation promising to “end welfare as we know it” became law.  I voted for that bill, which created a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy … Continued

Everything You Wanted to Know About the 1996 Welfare Law but Were Afraid to Ask

From the Center for American Progress (http://www.americanprogress.org): August 22, 2016 | Rebecca Vallas & Jeremy Slevin What’s TANF? In 1996, Congress replaced the New Deal-era Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) with a new program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), under … Continued

The Next Reform to Welfare Reform

Posted at http://www.chn.org/2016/08/25/next-reform-welfare-reform/#.V78bEPkrIdU By Deborah Weinstein August 25, 2016 Editor’s note: This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in the Washington Post on August 24. Make sure to also read Debbie’s entry on TANF’s 20th anniversary posted on this blog on August 22. The Aug. … Continued