Implementing the Personal Responsibility Act of 1996
A First Look
Published on 1. January 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
88 pages
978-0-914341-63-5 (ISBN)
Description
Examines the implementation of the 1996 national welfare reform act and summarizes field-research findings.
Focusing on what happens to national policies after they are made, the authors discover that there are surprises in the implementation of the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act and its connections to other social agencies and programs. Bureaucracies typically don't change this much and this fast. Why did it happen this time around? The book highlights three S's to encapsulate the changes that are occurring-Signals, Services, Sanctions. Emphasis is placed on "second-order devolution," the crucial role of front-line workers, the relationship between employment services and cash payment systems, varieties in goal clusters among the states and locally, the new role of "diversion" before welfare recipiency, and the condition and importance of welfare information systems. Field researchers in twenty states are conducting this ongoing study in conjunction with Rockefeller Institute central staff.
Focusing on what happens to national policies after they are made, the authors discover that there are surprises in the implementation of the 1996 Personal Responsibility Act and its connections to other social agencies and programs. Bureaucracies typically don't change this much and this fast. Why did it happen this time around? The book highlights three S's to encapsulate the changes that are occurring-Signals, Services, Sanctions. Emphasis is placed on "second-order devolution," the crucial role of front-line workers, the relationship between employment services and cash payment systems, varieties in goal clusters among the states and locally, the new role of "diversion" before welfare recipiency, and the condition and importance of welfare information systems. Field researchers in twenty states are conducting this ongoing study in conjunction with Rockefeller Institute central staff.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Albany, NY
United States
Target group
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Weight
145 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-914341-63-5 (9780914341635)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Richard P. Nathan is Director of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. Thomas L. Gais is Director of the Federalism Research Group at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government.
Content
1. Methodology
2. Three S's-Signals, Services, Sanctions
3. The New Political Economy of Welfare
4. New Players: The Growing Role of Employment Bureaucracies
5. Processes as Signals
6. The New Tools of Welfare
Diversion
Personal Responsibility Agreements
Sanctions
Services
7. New Distributions of Power: Reform and Second-Order Devolution
Recipients of New Power-Diverse, Complex and Often Nonprofit
8. Varieties of Welfare Cultures
9. The Special Challenge of Information Systems
10. Conclusions and Implications
11. Next Steps, Targeted Research
Follow-up Research: Priority Areas
Other Areas
Appendix A: State Field Research Team Leaders
Appendix B: First-Round Report Form
About the Authors
2. Three S's-Signals, Services, Sanctions
3. The New Political Economy of Welfare
4. New Players: The Growing Role of Employment Bureaucracies
5. Processes as Signals
6. The New Tools of Welfare
Diversion
Personal Responsibility Agreements
Sanctions
Services
7. New Distributions of Power: Reform and Second-Order Devolution
Recipients of New Power-Diverse, Complex and Often Nonprofit
8. Varieties of Welfare Cultures
9. The Special Challenge of Information Systems
10. Conclusions and Implications
11. Next Steps, Targeted Research
Follow-up Research: Priority Areas
Other Areas
Appendix A: State Field Research Team Leaders
Appendix B: First-Round Report Form
About the Authors