Abstract
This paper presents a policy briefly outlining where the province of Ontario is failing single parents on welfare (or, more generally, single parents struggling to survive economically). The paper explores the problem, the nature and history of the issue and the stakeholders involved. It then looks at what the government (at least at the provincial level) can do and what is being done in other (European) jurisdictions. Finally, the paper discusses two possible policy options that hold out significant promise.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
History of the Issue
Stakeholders and Policy Recommendations
Governments and the Issue
Economics and Politics
What other Jurisdictions are Doing
Two Possible Options that Might Work

From the Paper
"In the end, social workers concerned about the rampant phenomenon of single parents in Ontario finding themselves trapped on social welfare can generally agree that something different from the prevailing provincial approach to the issue is needed. First of all, the minimum wage needs to be raised to at least $10 per hour and OW benefits need to be increased, as well. Simply put, ridiculously low wages give people little incentive to leave welfare behind exacerbate the cycle of poverty. Furthermore, child care services need to be implemented in full in this province - and that means money should be put towards new facilities. A huge amount of money is not necessarily required, but if a small percentage of funds allocated for social welfare were instead put into state-funded childcare facilities, that might be just what single parents need in order to re-access the labor force."

Tags:welfare, wages, stakeholders, divorce

Abstract
This paper shall present a policy brief outlining where the province of Ontario is failing single parents on welfare (or, more generally, single parents struggling to survive economically). The paper explores the problem, the nature and history of the problem, the stakeholders involved, what government (at least at the provincial level) can do, what is being done in other (European) jurisdictions, and two possible policy options that hold out significant promise.

Tags:option, Canada, poverty, family, poor

Abstract
This paper examines some of the problems in the social welfare system as it exists today. It provides evidence of the ineffectiveness of the current system, which attempts to address the two-armed moral and physical needs of the individual with one arm tied behind its back. The digression that discusses the overall social welfare system and its philosophical underpinnings is necessary in order to understand the current problems with incarcerated mothers and then move ahead to suggest policy, which will accurately meet the needs of this population, rather than just create another social program. In conclusion, this paper presents suggestions for policy changes that could bring greater aid to the mothers and children who are caught in this difficult situation.

From the Paper
"In regard to incarcerated mothers, and developing a system of social services to meet their needs, the interwoven nature of social and moral issues is even more difficult to separate. Child rearing is a process which provides more than physical needs to the growing child. A newborn or young child is dependant on his or her mother for emotional stability and growth. The character of the youngster is formed by the parents as they are taught right from wrong, taught to respect authority, and to respect themselves. In addition to providing the youngster with food, clothing and shelter, these morally necessary learning processes are surreptitiously aborted when the mother is incarcerated, or gives birth to a child while behind bars."

Tags:juvenile, single, parent, security

Abstract
The paper offers a brief discussion of the definition of social policy and then traces the history of the development of welfare policy in Australia. To analyse how efficiently the current delivery of social policy achieves its goal, the paper focuses on the two key welfare policy areas of education and employment. The paper argues that in these key policy areas, the delivery of social policy does not completely fulfil its social goals and aims. The paper contends that social policy is shaped by changing needs and values, thus the delivery of welfare must reflect these changes to ensure efficient and effective social policy.

From the Paper
"In its common form as it is most often applied, 'social policy' has connotations of equality through the provision of welfare and the redistribution of resources (Graycar & Jamrozik 1993, p. 54). This definition is further extended by McClelland (2006a, p. 7), who adds that social policy involves debates about values, and assumptions of the behaviour of members of a society. The scope of social policy is broad, in that there are a wide-range of factors which influence it. This can include factors such as economic, political, and historical contexts (Jones 1996, p. 30; McClelland 2006a, p. 18). Economic policy, for example, often determines the resource allocation aspects of social welfare policy (Smyth 1994, p. 39). Given this broad scope of social policy, social welfare should be viewed not in isolation, but as part of the broader contexts of a society. This is an important point to consider, as this often affects the aims of a social policy goal, and also the effectiveness of social policy as an instrument."

Tags:welfare, unemployment, education, resources, goal, instrument

Abstract
The paper discusses the subject of single parenting, the demographics, contributing factors and issues with which single parents have to contend. The paper comments that the large percentage of single parents fall into the African American or Latin American racial / cultural origin group and highlights the reasons, needs and the problems experienced by this specific group and, more specifically, the effect that this has on the offspring.

From the Paper
"Who are the single-parents? Where do they live? The vast majority of single parents are women, are of African American or Latin American racial / cultural origin, are below the national average for household income, are below the age of thirty when they first became a single parent, and therefore a significant number of the children of single parents are living in conditions that would be potentially much better were there to be two wage earners in the home."

Tags:traditional, structures, demographic, economic, pressure

Abstract
This paper discusses the complicated life of the single parent and the results of a survey carried out to study a number of issues that affect the lives of both the parent and their child or children. The writer describes problems ranging from financial to mental. The single parent deals with a level of stress superior to that of a dual parent household, largely due to the increased responsibility required, and the lack of an individual to share it with. This can lead to feelings of loneliness within the single parent, reducing the single parent's personal well-being and lessening his/her capacity to parent. Children are also affected by the increase in stress and the unconventional situation and may suffer both academically and behaviorally. The financial challenges faced by the single parent family form another major issue that affects both the parent and child.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Research Results
Literature Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Throughout the research, a few particular trends became apparent. Single parents are just as the name describes, alone. Due to this they are forced to take on the roles of two parents and also provide the same support as multiple parents. This increased responsibility affects both their financial viability, levels of stress, and feelings of affection, alongside their ability to find companionship. The addition of stress in the lives of both the parents and children will have an effect upon their level of achievement in life, whether it is academically or financially on the part of the parents."

Tags:conflict, quality, relationship, involvement, care, attachment, parental, feeling

Abstract
This paper analyzes the relationship and importance between social policy and the comparative analysis.

Tags:comparative, social, policy

Abstract
The paper first examines a news article from the Chicago Tribune, "FSSA expands Medicaid coverage to children leaving foster care" by Kusmer (2006). The second article is a more scholarly article (Cunningham, McKenzie, & Taylor, 2006) entitled "The struggle to provide community-based care to low-income people with serious mental illness." The paper looks at how both articles address the growing concern among public policy analysts and the public over how to address the seemingly growing number of serious cases of mental illness among impoverished groups that are unable to provide for their own care.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this essay is to critique two recent articles on social policy as it relates to extreme cases of mental illness. The first is a news article from the Chicago Tribune, "FSSA expands Medicaid coverage to children leaving foster care" by Kusmer (2006). The second is a more scholarly article (Cunningham, McKenzie, and Taylor, 2006) entitled "The struggle to provide community-based care to low-income people with serious mental illness." Both articles address the growing concern among public policy analysts and the public over how to address the seemingly growing number of serious cases of mental illness among impoverished groups that..."

Tags:social, policy, articles

Abstract
This paper discusses how many governmental policies in the United States seem to be based on the assumption that all families are nuclear families with stable membership over time. It points out, however, that, in reality, U.S. families are structurally diverse; there are a large number of single-parent households, stepfamily households and extended family households. This paper looks at the ramifications of single-parent households on children from an economic, social, psychological and emotional perspective.

From the Paper
"Divorce forces family members to rethink family kinship and leads to changes in whether certain individuals continue to be defined as relatives. After divorce, relationships with in-laws may be redefined, parents may lose contact with their nonresidential children, and stepkin may be added to the family following remarriage. Remarriage potentially adds members to the pool of kin without necessarily eliminating old kin members, resulting in remarriage chains that are linked by children. Family obligations about supporting elders may be stronger in these remarriage chains. Remarriage also may force family members to decide if certain individuals are to be thought of as relatives. Socially defined standards, or normative family obligation beliefs, are generalized norms regarding obligations of family members to one another. "Kin norms are culturally defined rights and duties that specify the ways in which any pair of kin-related persons is expected to behave toward each other" (Rossi & Rossi 155-156). "Family obligations can be seen as part of normative rules which . . . get applied in appropriate situations" (Finch, 155-156). In Finch's thinking, these rules are more like guidelines that direct decisions and behaviors rather than rigid law-like rules to which people strictly adhere."

Tags:child, support, welfare

Abstract
This paper cites numerous studies detailing the social and economic consequences of child poverty in America. The paper looks at the long-term effects of child poverty, its primary causes, the failure of government policies to address the problem, and some measures the government can implement to reduce the child poverty rate. The paper also looks at how high immigration rates tend to increase the child poverty rate and immigration policies put into effect in an effort to stem the rising tide of immigrants.

From the Paper
"Studies show that child poverty has been increasing at an alarming rate in the last decade. In 1994, 15.3 million children, or 21.8% of all Americans, were poor (Lichter 1997) and that, although children constituted only 26.7% of the population, 40.1% of all poor persons in the US were children (US Bureau of Census 1996 as qtd in Lichter). These rising poverty rates are used by government agencies in determining the criteria for eligibility in social insurance programs and public assistance interventions developed by these government agencies. And, according to these criteria, the economic well-being of American children is on a downtrend, which indicates that tomorrow's adults will be less economically adjusted than adults today and that the future of today's children is materially and psycho-emotionally less promising (Lichter)."

Tags:institutions, family, school, single-parent, care, non-family, babysitters, welfare, reform, needs