Income Security and Public Assistance for Women and Children

Income Security and Public Assistance for Women and Children provides a progressive perspective on social, political, and economic inequalities in relation to women and children and their income security. Most of the contemporary discourse on income security and public assistance comes from people who have no awareness of what it means to live in poverty. This volume, in contrast, offers those who are in poverty an opportunity to present what they believe they need to have in order to become independent. It also provides pragmatic and politically viable options to ensure the income security of poor women and children, particularly on the federal level. Income Security and Public Assistance for Women and Children challenges prevailing conceptions--that government assistance creates dependency and exacerbates the position of poor women and children--of public assistance and social welfare in American society. You'll gain new perspectives on the "welfare reform" debate as you read informative chapters about:

expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for income security for children
inter-state inequities in children's income security
feminist methodology
welfare mothers'identified needs for becoming economically self-sufficient
family caregiving and public assistance
health care and the poor
poverty and child placement
federal protection of vulnerable children
possible negative impacts of potential legislative changesThe goal of Income Security and Public Assistance for Women and Children is to bring to task the mean-spirited ideas that many politicians are espousing as "welfare reform." You'll see how recent legislative developments make the situation even more desperate for many women and children who are barely above the poverty level as the book reviews the nature of recently enacted changes, such as block grants, and makes proposals for establishing a national income security program for children. Academics in the fields of sociology, social work, women's studies, and political science; policymakers in social agencies and public welfare organizations; and advocates for women and children will find this book gives invaluable insight and direction for ensuring income security and public assistance for women and children in the future.