Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2001): Child Welfare - Overseas

CHILD CARE COSTS AND WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT: A COMPARISON OF SINGLE AND MARRIED MOTHERS WITH PRE-SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

W. Han and J. Waldfogel

Social Science Quarterly, vol.82, 2001, p.552-568

The effects of child care costs on the employment of single and married mothers with pre-school age children were analyzed using demographic and employment data from the US March Current Population Survey, supplemented by child care data from various sources Results showed that child care costs have strong effects on the employment of women with pre-school children, and that these effects are larger for single mothers than for married mothers.

CHILDREN IN POVERTY: DO STATE POLICIES MATTER?

D. R. Morgan and K. Kickham

Social Science Quarterly, vol.82, 2001, p.478-493

Found that economic and family circumstances are the major determinants of child poverty among the states of the USA. The unemployment rate for females, the percentage of births to unmarried mothers and the percentage of single parent families are especially useful indicators. Public policies such as the state or federal minimum wage, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Food Stamp programme payments are also important.

THE COST OF WORKING TOGETHER: A FRAMEWORK FOR ESTIMATING THE COSTS OF COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR CHILDREN

J. K. Rice

Administration and Society, vol.33, 2001, p.455-479

Article develops, applies and appraises a framework designed to guide local policy makers as they consider the types, amounts and distribution of costs associated with comprehensive support services for children. Comprehensive systems that seek to coordinate a broad array of support services have been surfacing as an avenue for providing public services to children.

THE REFORM OF INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION IN ROMANIA

C. Hamilton

ChildRight, no. 179, 2001, p.18-20

The full of Ceaucescu led to a huge rise in unregulated intercountry adoption from Romania. It was hoped that the implementation of the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption would put an end to the alarming flow of children out of the country. Unfortunately that hope was not realised. New legislation is now being drafted aimed at keeping Romanian children in Romania, safeguarded by an effective child welfare system and laws which ensure that intercountry adoption is a last resort.

UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AMONG UNEQUAL STATES: THE IMPORTANCE OF EXAMINING STATE CHARACTERISTIES IN MAKING SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES REGARDING CHILDREN

I. P. Whitaker

Journal of Children and Poverty, vol.7, 2001, p.145-162

Study demonstrates that states in the USA are already unequal on measures of child social well-being deficits. States that already exhibit large social well-being deficits will most likely see these deficits grow as income, food and medical supports are withheld from families that do not comply with state regulations for receiving benefits. The exacerbation of child social well-being deficits is tied to how states choose to treat poor families under current welfare reform policies, as the generosity of support varies from state to state.