From Welfare to Childcare

<p>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.<br><br>The purpose of <i>From Welfare to Childcare</i> 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.<br><br>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.</p>