PARENTING AND FAMILY ISSUES & THE WELFARE REFORM DEBATE

Today, 39 percent of the homeless population are parents and children. In addition, nearly one in seven children in America receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the nation's main cash welfare program.

Welfare for children and families, specifically the AFDC program, has been the focus of significant, often contentious congressional debate. This debate is fueled, in part, by the AFDC program's 30 percent growth since 1989. In 1994, this federal-state program cost $23 billion, plus $2.7 billion in administrative costs. (1)

AFDC is an example of American welfare that promotes dependency and irresponsible behavior by parents. The original intent of programs such as the AFDC was to provide families temporary relief during difficult times. However, it is a fact that only seven percent of single parents on AFDC are now working full or part time. (2) The program has grown significantly in the past 5 years and Americans perceive that receiving welfare checks has become a way of life for more than 14.2 million people.

IUGM mission take a different approach in helping poor families with children. IUGM missions do not provide "hand-outs," rather, they offer "hand-up" programs that help homeless parents and children move from dependency to self-sufficiency.

HOUSE ACTION

Clearly, one of the primary goals of welfare reform is to reduce the number of people on the welfare rolls. The underlying intent for reaching this goal is promoting responsibility and accountability among welfare recipients.

In March, the House passed its version of welfare reform (H.R. 4). This legislation includes provisions to:

• Eliminate the entitlement status of AFDC. As an entitlement, AFDC is automatically available to needy children and single-parents in homes where a parent is absent from home, out of work, incapacitated, or deceased. (3)
• End cash benefits to unwed mothers under age 18.
• Require welfare recipients to work within two years after receiving welfare benefits.
• Deny increased payment to families that have more children while on welfare.
• Require states to guarantee child care to welfare recipients with children younger than 6 who need it to find work.
• Fund the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program.

The JOBS program is designed to assure that needy parents obtain education, training and employment that will help them avoid long-term welfare dependency. Within the program such expenses as transportation, child-care allowance, and other work-related costs will be supplemented.

The House Democratic leadership repeatedly characterizes the ideas behind H.R. 4, primarily a Republican agenda, as punishing the poor, especially children. Dissent from Democrats will continue to be heard as the welfare reform process moves forward.

SENATE OUTLOOK

The Senate Republicans and Democrats are divided on several issues surrounding welfare reform not only across ideological lines but also within the respective parties.

The disagreements involve a wide range of issues: formulas for distributing Federal money, work requirements for welfare recipients, proposals to discourage unmarried women from having babies, and the balance of power between the Federal government and states. (4)

At this writing, the Senate version of welfare reform legislation is being debated on the Senate floor.

IUGM Missions

Teaching personal responsibility is one of the IUGM missions' major goals. As part of the spiritual program, parents are taught the importance of moral obligation to the family and family reconciliation. There are two approaches IUGM missions take. They are:

1. Helping homeless parents become self-sufficient.

IUGM mission programs help parents, both single and married, get a "hand-up" to pursue a better life for their children. Parents are provided with the tools necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.

In addition to food, shelter, and clothing, IUGM missions provide education, substance abuse rehabilitation, child care services, services for at-risk youths, parenting skills, and transitional housing for needy families.

2. Reuniting alienated parents with their children.

The majority of homeless men and women have alienated themselves from their spouse and children. Often times, separation is caused by this person's addiction to drugs, unemployment, and other personal problems. IUGM missions work with the homeless and poor re-claim their lives and guide them back to their families.

By helping the homeless and poor parents re-build and re-claim their lives, IUGM missions are saving thousands of children from a life of poverty and despair.

# # # #

(1) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Appendix, p. 449

(2) Robert Rector & William F. Lauber, "America's Failed War on Poverty."
   The Heritage Foundation, 1995


(3) Ibid.


(4) Robert Pear, "Republicans Squabble Delays Welfare Reform," New York Times, June 16, 1995

© Copyright Russ Reid Company September 18, 1995



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