Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Sharon K. Long on Poverty and Safety Net

Health insurance is unlikely to be affordable for the 18.1 million uninsured, low-income adults who have difficulty putting food on the table or a roof over their heads. High health insurance costs likely make purchasing health insurance particularly difficult for the 6.5 million uninsured, low-income adults who need insurance the most because they are in fair or poor health, have a work disability, or are pregnant. While many low-income adults facing hardship are insured, the probability of being uninsured is significantly higher for low-income adults having difficulty paying for food or housing (39 percent) than for those not experiencing such hardship (33 percent). The brief combines data from the 1997 and 1999 rounds of the National Survey of America's Families.

Urban Institute researcher, Sharon Long, testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Human Resources on childcare assistance under welfare reform. In her testimony she addresses two issues related to changes in child care assistance programs: state responses to the increased opportunity for innovation under welfare reform; and the adequacy of child care funding to meet the needs of low-income working families.

There are two Highlights for each state. The income support and social services Highlights look at basic income support programs, employment and training programs, child care, child support enforcement, and the last-resort safety net. The Highlights capture policies in place and planned in 1996 and early 1997.

There are two Highlights for each state. The income support and social services Highlights look at basic income support programs, employment and training programs, child care, child support enforcement, and the last-resort safety net. The Highlights capture policies in place and planned in 1996 and early 1997.

When the demand for child care assistance exceeds the available federal and state child care funds, the group most likely to be left without assistance is low-income working families with no connection to the welfare system. Despite a $600 million increase in federal funds for child care, there is only enough money to serve half of the low-income families needing child care assistance. This paper also examines who receives child care assistance and who pays for it.

This is volume one of a study to examine key implementation and operational issues in five states—Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Utah, and Vermont—that are currently conducting welfare reform demonstration projects. Reforms in these states emphasize strategies to increase participation in work and work-related activities. Discussions with state and local officials, case record reviews, and management reports form the basis for this volume of the report. Also highlighted are lessons learned in these states as they instituted significant and numerous changes in their welfare systems.

This is volume two of a study to examine key implementation and operational issues in five states—Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Utah, and Vermont—that are currently conducting welfare reform demonstration projects. Reforms in these states emphasize strategies to increase participation in work and work-related activities. This volume consists of summaries of site visits to the five states. Staff in local offices provided information on how the reforms operated on a day-to-day basis and explained how their jobs changed as a result of the reforms.

Current welfare-reform efforts aim to move families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits from welfare to work. With the anticipated increase in the number of women working, there would be a corresponding increase in the use of nonparental child care. The costs associated with such changes are highly uncertain. Local child care resource and referral agencies provided data about the price and accessibility of child care, as well as availability of assistance for low-income families in six communities.

The Washington State Family Independence Program (FIP) is a welfare reform program designed to help families become more economically self-sufficient. It was expected to increase participation in education, training, and employment, which would in turn reduce welfare participation. However, relative to traditional welfare, FIP had little or no impact on education and training, it reduced employment and earnings a little, and it increased welfare participation substantially. The authors present data gathered by the Urban Institute over five years and analyze the reasons for FIP's failure to meet its original goals.

The Washington State Family Independence Program (FIP) is a welfare reform program designed to help families become more economically self-sufficient. It was expected to increase participation in education, training, and employment, which would in turn reduce welfare participation. However, relative to traditional welfare, FIP had little or no impact on education and training, it reduced employment and earnings a little, and it increased welfare participation substantially. The authors present data gathered by the Urban Institute over five years and analyze the reasons for FIP's failure to meet its original goals.