Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Laudan Y. Aron on Families/Parenting

In this commentary, senior research associate Laudan Aron explores the dark side of a booming business -- matching American men with foreign women -- and what should be done to protect "mail-order brides."

The Urban Institute partnered with the One Economy Corporation in applying for a special improvement project (SIP) grant from OCSE to develop high-quality online child support information specifically developed for families in low-income and ethnic and culturally diverse communities. This grant was awarded and used to prepare three sets of bilingual web pages (one national and two local) that are now available to millions of Americans across the country, and can also be used as models for other local and national sites. The main “products” of this grant are the new child support web pages, which can be viewed live at www.thebeehive.org. This report provides the history and background for this project, describes the work completed under the SIP grant, presents interesting findings not apparent on the website itself, and discusses lessons learned for similar future efforts.

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.

This report examines the services, staffing, funding, and clientele of publicly funded family planning clinics in the United States. A review of the evolution of family-planning services and their changing clientele during the 1980s is included. It presents the views and concerns of clinic managers concerning changes in programs and policies that may occur under health care reform and includes recommendations about program alternatives.