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Federal welfare reform revolutionizes the way America addresses the needs of the poor. States now have the authority to design and implement welfare policies with very few federal requirements. The federal AFDC program is gone, along with its entitlements to cash assistance for needy families. The legislative vehicle that replaced it, called the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), imposes work requirements and time limits that wipe away the assurance of welfare benefits just because a family's income warrants them. The welfare reform legislation reduces Food Stamp benefits for many poor individuals in the years ahead. It also cuts or eliminates benefits to legal immigrants. Instead of receiving money from the federal government for all families whose income qualifies them for benefits, states now receive an annual block grant to provide benefits to poor families. If more people need assistance than federal funds allow, states must find other funding sources.
When the federal law passed, some denounced the changes to "welfare as we know it," and some praised them. The debate continues to simmer at the state level, as governors and state legislators determine welfare policies in each state. Supporters of the legislation believe it is creating new opportunities for parents to work and for children to succeed. Critics argue that jobs--particularly those that pay a living wage--simply aren't available in sufficient supply, and they worry that in the long run large numbers of children will be thrown into poverty, especially if the economy worsens.
Whether welfare reform actually helps families move toward self sufficiency depends on how state governments implement their new programs within the federal rules. In states with county-administered welfare programs, some blend of state and county decisions will shape the new system. Regardless of who is involved at the state and county level, local people and organizations need to consider the impact of these changes on their children and families, their neighborhoods and communities. Communities must be prepared to respond to--and help direct--state and county decisions.
Figure 1 outlines major provisions of the federal law, along with the time frames for implementing each section of the law. As the timelines in Figure 1 indicate, states already have implemented major parts of the law and will continue to make important operational decisions throughout 1997.
