Temporary Aid for Needy Families

Paper Summary:

This paper focuses on the main goals of TANF. TANF is a federal grant program intended to make significant reforms to the U.S. Welfare system by converting traditional welfare into a program of temporary assistance. The writer contends and explains why the TANF is an important transformation in welfare policy. This paper details the various ways in which the TANF aids low-income families. The TANF encourages the creation and maintenance of two-parent families as well as offering aid to families in order to end their dependency on the government. The TANF offers assistance in obtaining long-term employment, while also educating single women on the pitfalls of having children outside of marriage. The writer details the TANF's eligibility requirements, which depends on income, assets, marital status and the number of minor children in the household. This paper examines the views and opinions of those for and against welfare reform and the TANF program. This paper contains a table which lists state-wide TANF recipients over a span of seven years. The writer also presents a graph that illustrates the percentage of the U.S. population on welfare.

Table of Contents:
Introduction to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Debate Over TANF: Supporters and Opponents
Future Expectations of TANF
Historical Data
Graph
References

From the Paper:

"TANF was enacted following a bitter debate regarding the characteristics of welfare dependency and the possible impact of culminating the welfare privilege and laying importance on work as an alternative. The conservatives were confirmed as correct that the welfare system itself led to dependence and that several welfare mothers as an alternative measure could hold down jobs or depend on others for help. A work supportive welfare system of narrow, short-term help efficiently took off several mothers off welfare. On a more basic note, the massive decline on dependency on welfare and the growth in work does not appear to have considerably modified the lives of these families. Prior to TANF, state leaders, the conservatives included, also stayed aloof from workforce program due to the expenses and administrative challenges concerned and the political disagreement they produced."

More papers on Temporary Aid for Needy Families:

• Essay # 25889 : "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF)"
• Essay # 15339 : "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families"
• Essay # 10027 : "Child Welfare"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: