From Welfare to Childcare

Although federal and state support for childcare has increased dramatically in response to welfare work requirements, low-income families are still facing difficulties balancing work and family obligations. There is wide variation across states in the strictness of welfare work requirements and in the generosity of childcare support. In addition, the level of co-payments required and the flexibility to use subsidies for informal modes of childcare differ across states, leading families to make different childcare and employment choices. The purpose of From Welfare to Childcare is first to describe what changes occurred in childcare following the 1996 welfare reform legislation, and then to analyze how federal welfare and subsidy policies influence the availability, accessibility, and quality of childcare arrangements for single mothers with young children. National in scope, it focuses on how the reforms influence the way that children are cared for when their mothers leave welfare and enter the workforce. This book is suitable for national, state, and local policymakers, non-profit organizations that study and attempt to influence public policy, and scholars interested in family and social policy issues. It can be used as a text in graduate level courses on welfare, poverty, and children and public policy.

Cabrera, Natasha; Hutchens, Robert; Peters, H. Elizabeth

Contents: Introduction. Part I: The Landscape of Child Care in the Post-Welfare Reform Era.L. Giannarelli, F.L. Sonenstein, M.W. Stagner, Child-Care Arrangements and Help for Low-Income Families With Young Children: Evidence From the National Survey of America's Families. C. Ross, G. Kirby, Welfare-to-Work Transitions for Parents of Infants: Employment and Child-Care Policy Implementation in Eight Communities. A.D. Witte, M. Queralt, Infant and Toddler Care After Welfare Reform: A Cross-State Comparison. Part II: Government Policies and the Nature of Child Care.L.A. Gennetian, D.A. Crosby, A.C. Huston, Welfare and Child-Care Policy Effects on Very Young Children's Child-Care Experiences. C.K.C. Ficano, H.E. Peters, Work, Welfare, and Child-Care Choices Among Low-Income Women: Does Policy Matter? J. Kimmel, L.M. Powell, Nonstandard Work and Child-Care Choices: Implications for Welfare Reform. R.L. Coley, C.P. Li-Grining, P.L. Chase-Landsdale, Low-Income Families' Child Care Experiences: Meeting the Needs of Children and Families. Part III: Government Subsidies and the Nature of Child Care.M.K. Meyers, L.R. Peck, E.E. Davis, A. Collins, J.L. Kreader, A. Georges, R. Weber, D. Schexnayder, D. Schroeder, J.A. Olson, The Dynamics of Child-Care Subsidy Use: A Collaborative Study of Five States. G. Adams, K. Snyder, and Analysis Team, Child-Care Subsidies and Low-Income Parents-Policies and Practices that Affect Access and Retention. S.K. Danziger, E.O. Ananat, K.G. Browning, Child-Care Subsidies and the Transition From Welfare to Work. Part IV: Implications and Future Directions.D. Phillips, Child Care as Risk or Protection in the Context of Welfare Reform. M. Burchinal, Child-Care