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Family and public policy

Family and public policy. What is family policy? Development of policy in the U.S. Recent policy directions 2000’s and beyond. Family policy. Beliefs about government’s role in caring for dependents Examples: single-parent families, poverty Reform welfare Enforce child support

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Family and public policy

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  1. Family and public policy • What is family policy? • Development of policy in the U.S. • Recent policy directions • 2000’s and beyond

  2. Family policy • Beliefs about government’s role in caring for dependents • Examples: • single-parent families, poverty • Reform welfare • Enforce child support • mothers employment • Child care assistance • Work leave

  3. Current system: Welfare state • Policies protect workers and families from harsh economic conditions • Focus on caretaking and dependents

  4. In the past • Colonial era: little economic assistance • Early 1900s: labor unions demanded pensions and unemployment comp. • 1929—Great Depression • Pres. Roosevelt called for government intervention

  5. In the past • Depression created “welfare state” • 1935: Social Security Actcreated • Pension for elderly • Unemployment compensation • Aid to mothers with dependent children • Eventually became AFDC • 1996 became PRWORA (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act)

  6. In the past • 1960s: war on poverty • Social Security benefits increased • Medicare was introduced • Single parents were included in AFDC • Civil Rights Act banned discrimination

  7. 1996 Welfare Reform • Ended “entitlement:” obligation to provide for poor • Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) • Limited welfare to 5 years

  8. Reasons for the Policy Reversal • 1. Attitudes toward women’s roles • If women can work, those on welfare should work • 2. Welfare recipients • Single mothers by choice • Deserving vs. undeserving poor • 3. Concern about dependency • Poor become too dependent • Not encouraged to take a job • Children caught in cycle of dependency

  9. What forms should policy take? • Richard Louv: 3 points of view: • 1. “Nostalgic Traditionalist” (conservative) • Return to 1950’s • Remove incentives for moms to work • Religious values influence policy: • Make divorce more difficult • Support private schools • End abortion • Man-woman marriage only

  10. 3 points of view (cont’d.) • 2. “High-tech. modernist:” (liberal) • Support all family forms • Govt. or corporate sponsored daycare • Health insurance for all • Family leave • Flexible workplace • More spending on public education

  11. 3 points of view (cont’d.) • “Neo-traditionalist:” a synthesis • From nostalgic traditionalist: • Supports parents’ choice, autonomy • Rejects sexism of 1950’s • From high-tech modernist: • Supports acceptance of different forms • Rejects over-involvement of govt.

  12. “The Web” Extended family Parents Children Friends Neighborhood Schools Recreation Child care Workplace Health care Social Services Business

  13. Current family policy issues • Should government • assist employed parents? • promote marriage? • restrict marriage to heterosexuals? • Political issues may also be symbolic • Should govt. enforce moral values? • Should people be free to choose any lifestyle? • What’s best for children?

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