Urban Institute: Center on Labor, Human Services and Population

Reaffirming the Work Requirement for Noncustodial Parents as Part of TANF Reauthorization

paffairs@urban.org ( Elaine Sorensen) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Research shows that work programs for noncustodial parents can increase employment and child support payments.Yet very few state TANF programs provide these work activities even though the estimated cost of implementing a requirement is zero.Congress needs to reaffirm its intent to impose a work requirement on noncustodial parents through the child support program and clearly state that child support funds may be used to fund the work programs.

Evaluation Design for the Next Phase Evaluation of the Assets for Independence Program, Final Literature Review

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Based on our review and synthesis of the individual development account (IDA) literature, findings in this report include that IDA accounts (in the short-term, five years after program entry) help low-income families become homeowners, start or expand a business, or pursue secondary education. Studies to date have found no relationship between IDA program participation and net worth. The report reviews empirical evidence on the effect of IDA program participation and project design features on outcomes and highlights remaining gaps in the literature.

Who are Low-Asset Low-Income Families?

paffairs@urban.org ( Mauricio Soto) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

More than a quarter of U.S. families are in the bottom 40 percent of both the net worth and the income distributions. For these families, neither assets nor income offers much protection against financial shocks. This fact sheet describes the characteristics of these families. Low-asset low-income families tend to be younger, single, less educated, in poorer health, and minority.

Children of Immigrants: Growing National and State Diversity

paffairs@urban.org ( Karina Fortuny, Ajay Chaudry) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Growth in the number of children in immigrant families during the 2000s offset the decline in children with native-born parents. Between 2000 and 2009, the minority share of U.S. children under age 18 increased from 38 to 44 percent, driven by growth in the number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian children and a decline in non-Hispanic white children. While the increase in minority children included children with foreign-and native-born parents, children of immigrants accounted for most of the growth. This brief highlights important trends in the changing demographics of the U.S. child population nationally and across states.

Children of Immigrants: The Changing Face of Metropolitan America

paffairs@urban.org ( Ajay Chaudry, Karina Fortuny) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

The majority (84 percent) of the 17 million children of immigrants in the United States live in the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Children of immigrants drove the growth in the child population under age 18 nationally and in the largest metros: if it was not for them, the child population in the top 100 metros overall and in many metros would have declined in the last decade. Driven by immigration and population momentum, the child minority share across the top 100 metros reached 51 percent in 2009 and many of the largest metros became "majority minority" metros.

A Comprehensive Review of Immigrant Access to Health and Human Services

paffairs@urban.org ( Karina Fortuny, Ajay Chaudry) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Immigrant Access to Health and Human Services study maps and describes the policy context that can affect immigrant access to health and human services and the well-being of immigrants and their children. This paper summarizes federal provisions and key aspects of state-level variation related to immigrants' eligibility for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and CHIP based on a review of literature and the latest information. It provides a building block for the fieldwork and in-depth assessment of the policy context around immigrant access to health and human services.

How Lifetime Benefits and Contributions Point the Way Toward Reforming Our Senior Entitlement Programs

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle, Stephanie Rennane) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Congress, the President, and various commissions have begun discussing real Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid reform.This paper suggests that as these discussions move forward, it would be helpful to examine lifetime contributions and benefits for Medicare and Social Security to understand the programs internal fiscal situations and their broader role in overall budget policy and, most importantly, as a way toward a more unified and coherent approach to entitlement reform for seniors. This approach also provides a useful window on how equitably lifetime benefits and taxes are distributed and on the fiscal stability of the overall system.

Is Poverty Incompatible with Asset Accumulation?

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

Is poverty incompatible with asset accumulation? We examine whether the poor can and do save and whether they are able to build up assets over time. Data are presented from household surveys, as well as from programs targeted at helping families accumulate assets. Presenting and evaluating the state of knowledge provides a new lens on whether the current income-based safety net could better serve poor families by having an asset building component. Conventional thinking is that families that are income poor cannot save. This chapter shows that this thinking is inaccurate; poverty does not have to be incompatible with asset accumulation.

Family Policy Scholar Elizabeth Peters Becomes Director of Urban Institute's Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

Elizabeth Peters, the founding director of Cornell University's Population Program, has joined the Urban Institute as the director of its Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population.

Informal and Nonstandard Employment in the United States : Implications for Low-Income Working Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Demetra Smith Nightingale, Stephen Wandner ) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

The informal economy, meaning employment and production that operate outside the regulatory and tax systems, tends to be overlooked in U.S. policy discussions. When it is considered, it is often viewed in terms of black market (i.e., criminal and illegal) activities, undocumented immigrants, or white-collar tax evasion. Beyond these stereotypes, millions of workers are in various informal employment arrangements performing activities not otherwise criminal in nature. This brief presents background information on the informal sector and policy options that could improve economic conditions for low-wage informal workers and their families.

Private Transfers, Race, and Wealth

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

How do private transfers differ by race and ethnicity and do such differences explain the racial and ethnic disparity in wealth? Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study examines private transfers by race and ethnicity and explores a causal relationship between private transfers and wealth. We examine private transfers in the form of financial support received and given from extended families and friends, as well as large gifts and inheritances. Our findings highlight important differences in private transfers by race and ethnicity: African Americans and Hispanics (both immigrant and nonimmigrant) receive less in private transfers than non-Hispanic whites.

Kids' Share 2011

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Kids' Share 2011: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2010, a fifth annual report, looks comprehensively at trends over the past 50 years in federal spending and tax expenditures on children. Key findings suggest that the size and composition of expenditures on children have changed considerably, but children have not been a budget priority. Federal expenditures on children in 2010, were 11 percent of the federal budget, slightly higher than in 2009.This increase is temporary, however, with the children's share of the budget expected to shrink to less than 8 percent by the end of the next decade.

Head Start and the Changing Demographics of Today's Young Children

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

The increasing diversity of America's young children has important implications for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This paper summarizes recent changes in the racial and ethnic composition of young children, particularly increases in Hispanic and Asian children, as well as shifts in where young children live, with some northeastern and Midwestern states losing children while southern and southwestern states are rapidly gaining. Based on these trends and recent Urban Institute research, the paper makes four recommendations about how local Head Start practitioners can best meet the needs of today's young children and their families.

Child Care Choices of Low-Income Working Families

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

This research report presents the findings from a qualitative study of the child care choices of low-income working families in two urban communities. Participants included 86 parents with young children, many of whom were immigrants, English language learners, or parents of children with special needs. We discuss the key themes and variations in family experiences, giving particular attention to parental preferences and the factors that influenced their decisions, within the contexts of their employment and the early care and education programs in their communities. We conclude with policy recommendations that can promote parental access to affordable and high quality care.

Savings and Hardship Avoidance Among Households Headed by People with Disabilities: Implications for SSI

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory B. Mills, Sisi Zhang) — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

For households headed by persons with disabilities, savings can provide near-term protection against hardship. Analysis of longitudinal data from the 2001 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation indicates that households with $2,000 or more in liquid assets (interest-earning assets held at financial institutions) are better able to avoid subsequent hardships such as forgone doctor visits and missed utility payments, compared to those with smaller (or no) asset holdings. This evidence has implications for possible increases in the resource limits for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, now $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

Young Children of Immigrants and the Path to Educational Success : Key Themes from an Urban Institute Roundtable

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden, Karina Fortuny) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

The growing presence of young children of immigrants is changing the demographic makeup of classrooms, yet debates about early education and school reform often do not mention them. As high-quality education for all becomes a prominent policy and political goal, key questions remain unanswered about whether schools and early childhood programs are addressing their needs. This paper summarizes the Urban Institute's 2010 roundtable "Young Children of Immigrants and the Path to Educational Success" discussion, which focused on the specific needs of young children of immigrants.

Improving the Lives of Young Children: Meeting Parents' Health and Mental Health Needs through Medicaid and CHIP So Children Can Thrive

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden, Karina Fortuny) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Many young children have developmental or behavioral problems that could be addressed or prevented with the right early response but that are not identified or treated, compromising children's ability to perform up to their potential in school and leading to more costly interventions later. Because the quality of parenting is so critical to children's development, parental or family difficulties-including maternal depression-can endanger childrens development. Yet, parents often do not receive needed medical or mental health care.This brief discusses state Medicaid and CHIP choices that can enhance delivery of medical, mental health, and related services to parents.

Home Visiting and Maternal Depression: Seizing the Opportunities to Help Mothers and Young Children

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden, Amelia Hawkins, William Beardslee) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

This guide offers practical insights about how home visiting programs can better serve depressed mothers and their young children. Results reveal no single source of help, formal or informal, is universally trusted by mothers, who look for someone with whom they have a trusting relationship over time. Home visiting programs have great potential to help these families. However, programs need strong mental health connections, staff training, and capacity to transition depressed mothers to follow-up treatment, among other enhancements. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation funded this research as part of an Urban Institute project identifying effective service approaches for depressed mothers.

For Working Poor, Tax Season Brings Rush to Use Refund Anticipation Loans and Checks

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

Nearly one in five tax filers getting a refund this tax season, many of whom number among the working poor, are expected to use a refund anticipation loan (RAL) or refund anticipation check (RAC), a new Urban Institute study estimates. A related study investigates how state regulations affect consumer use of payday loans, auto title loans, pawnbroker loans, RALs, and rent-to-own transactions.

Assessing the Evidence about Work Support Benefits and Low-Income Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory B. Mills, Jessica F. Compton, Olivia Golden) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

For low-income working parents, benefits received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and child care subsidies provide vital work support. Access to these programs has been restricted, however, by barriers relating to federal and state funding, program policy, and administrative process, complicating program enrollment and benefit retention. As a result, many low-income working families do not receive the multi-program benefits for which they are eligible. This paper provides a strong rationale for the Work Support Strategies demonstration, enabling selected states to design, implement, and evaluate modernization strategies to dramatically improve families' access to a package of work support benefits.

Who Needs Credit at Tax Time and Why: A Look at Refund Anticipation Loans and Refund Anticipation Checks

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) and Checks (RACs) are controversial financial products used by one in seven tax filers. This report presents findings on many of the most important individual and geographical characteristics influencing RAL/RAC use, as well as, insights about product use from tax preparers, RAL/RAC lenders, RAL/RAC tax form software developers, low-cost RAL lenders, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sites. The results suggest that factors such as lack of interest income, geographic location, EITC receipt, filing as a head-of-household, income, and living in a poor neighborhood, each independently contributes strongly to RAL/RAC use.

State Restrictions on Small-Dollar Loans and Financial Services, 2004-2009: Summary, Documentation, and Data

paffairs@urban.org ( Nancy M. Pindus, Daniel Kuehn, Rachel Brash) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

This report documents state restrictions of five small-dollar products: auto title loans, pawnshop loans, payday loans, refund anticipation loans, and rent-to-own agreements between 2005 and 2009, in all states and the District of Columbia. Researchers find that over half of states prohibit auto title loans while a much smaller number of states prohibit payday loans. Nearly all states cap prices on at least one of the five products and the majority of states cap interest rates for pawnshops and payday lenders. Fewer than half of states impose disclosure requirements or price caps on rent-to-own agreements.

Summary on Developing a Research Agenda on Small-Dollar Credit and Financial Empowerment

paffairs@urban.org ( Signe-Mary McKernan, Jessica F. Compton) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

The U.S. Department of the Treasury gathered 50 foundation representatives and researchers from academia, government, the nonprofit sector, and industry to participate in the convening Developing a Research Agenda on Small-Dollar Credit and Financial Empowerment.This summary provides key insights from the one-day event including discussions on both the demand for and supply of small-dollar credit and what participants identified as research needed to inform policymaking in order to address the challenges related to meeting the small-dollar credit needs of underserved populations, notably low- and moderate-income individuals.

Improving the Lives of Young Children : Increasing Referrals and Follow-Up Treatment in Medicaid and CHIP

paffairs@urban.org ( Jennifer Pelletier, Genevieve M. Kenney) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

Many young children have developmental or behavioral problems that could be addressed with appropriate services but are not identified or treated before entering kindergarten, compromising a child's ability to perform up to full potential in school and leading to costly special education and health care interventions later. The patchwork of public programs that finances services creates barriers in access to follow-up services for children identified by diagnostic assessments as having developmental delays or behavioral problems that would benefit from intervention. This brief discusses referrals to services to address developmental delays and behavioral and physical health problems.

Improving the Lives of Young Children: : Opportunities for Care Coordination and Case Management for Children Receiving Services for Developmental Delay

paffairs@urban.org ( Carrie Hanlon) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

Services that support healthy development in the years before starting school can reduce the incidence of disorders that have high costs and long-term consequences for children's health, education, and well-being. State policy choices can affect the extent to which Medicaid- and CHIP-eligible children receive developmental screenings and follow-up treatment. Unfortunately, access to follow-up care, such as Early Intervention services, continues to be a challenge. This brief examines states' Medicaid and CHIP policy choices that will be available under health reform and other federal legislation to develop a well-coordinated system of care for children receiving early intervention and other ongoing services.

Immigration Policy and Less-Skilled Workers in the United States : Reflections on Future Directions for Reform

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Holzer) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

This paper reviews the evidence on the effects of less-skilled immigration to the U.S., and considers the implications of this evidence for immigration reform ideas. It begins with a review of the costs of less-skilled immigration, in terms of competition to native-born American workers and fiscal costs; as well as the benefits of such immigration in the form of lower prices to consumers, higher profits for employers, and greater efficiency for the U.S. economy. The paper then reviews various reform ideas that have been proposed in Congress in recent years, and also considers a range of other ideas, that would likely raise the net benefits associated with less-skilled immigration to the U.S.

Child Care Instability: Definitions, Context, and Policy Implications

paffairs@urban.org ( Gina Adams, Monica Rohacek) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Child care instability affects children's development, parent's employment, and family stability. This paper describes why it matters, discusses definitional and measurement challenges, provides a framework to examine links between instability in child care and family domains, and examines the causes of instability (including child care subsidy policy and practice). Findings suggest that policies supporting stability in child care could interrupt the cascading effect of instability in other domains. Policy strategies to improve the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)/Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), such as funding, voucher flexibility, eligibility, quality of care, and referral systems, are examined.

Improving the Lives of Young Children: : The Role of Developmental Screenings in Medicaid and CHIP

paffairs@urban.org ( Genevieve M. Kenney, Jennifer Pelletier) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Many young children have health, developmental or behavioral problems that are not identified before entering kindergarten, preventing them from receiving early intervention services. Large gaps in early identification exist in Medicaid, the nation's largest health insurance program for children, in which eligible children are entitled to regular screenings. This brief breaks down the shortfalls in receipt of developmental screenings into: not all eligible children are enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP; not all enrollees see a health care provider; and not all providers have the appropriate skills. To address these problems, states can take a number of steps within the Medicaid/CHIP policy environment.

Immigration Trends in Metropolitan America, 1980-2007

paffairs@urban.org ( Ajay Chaudry, Karina Fortuny, Paul A. Jargowsky) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Growth in immigration flows in the past three decades has almost tripled the size of the foreign-born population in the United States: from 14 million in 1980 to 38 million in 2007. Immigrants are still heavily concentrated in the six traditional immigrant destination states (California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey), but immigrant numbers grew rapidly in many western, midwestern, and southeastern states. Not surprisingly, many metropolitan areas outside the traditional destination states saw high immigration growth. This brief examines immigration and poverty trends between 1980 and 2007 across the 100 metropolitan areas with the largest immigrant populations.

Children of Immigrants: Economic Well-Being

paffairs@urban.org ( Ajay Chaudry, Karina Fortuny) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

This data brief is the fourth in a series that profiles children of immigrants using up-to-date census data and other sources. The first brief highlighted the fast growth of the immigrant population and important demographic trends. The second described the family circumstances of children of immigrants, and the third highlighted the circumstances of young children age 0 to 8. The current brief focuses on immigrant families' incomes, economic well-being, food insecurity, and use of public benefits.

Supplemental Security Income for the Second Decade

paffairs@urban.org ( Michael E. Wiseman) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Supplemental Security Income is an odd combination of income support for families with disabled children, disabled working-age adults, and elderly persons. The program faces challenges on three fronts. Payments for children bear little relationship to family need or costs. State efforts to promote transition of children and adults from TANF to SSI appear driven by fiscal considerations. Measuring the impact of poverty among the elderly is hampered by underreporting of benefits in survey data. This paper argues that SSI serves important purposes, but that the target populations might be served best by gradual decoupling or improved integration with other programs.

A New Vision to Increase the Academic Achievement for English Language Learners and Immigrant Students

paffairs@urban.org ( Kathleen Leos, Lisa Saavedra) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

This paper analyzes the challenges and opportunities posed by today's education reform debate for the early education and language learning of immigrant, limited English proficient, and English language learner students 3 to 8 years old. Because of the close connections between the preschool and early elementary years, the paper addresses children who attend early childhood and kindergarten-through-3rd-grade education programs throughout the United States. The analysis focuses on provisions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (reauthorized as the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001), and other relevant legislation and Supreme Court decisions.

Education and Achievement A Focus on Latino "Immigrant" Children

paffairs@urban.org ( Eugene Garcia) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

The high number of English language learners (ELLs) has brought a change in the demographics of public schools and a need to account for the educational experiences of these students, both linguistically and academically. A comprehensive English language development program that facilitates English language acquisition has never been comprehensively articulated and evaluated. This paper argues that robust and rigorous research could be highly useful for policy and education practice modifications. The expanded utilization of dual-language programs is a hopeful sign of that possibility as they offer an alternative with solid empirical evidence for success in selected populations and specific conditions.

Effects of Immigration on WIC and NSLP Caseloads

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) have no eligibility restrictions based on the legal status of immigrants. This study reveals an increase in the number and share of immigrants and their children in WIC and NSLP between the mid-1990s and 2006; however, their share of participants is generally comparable to their shares of the eligible populations. Findings suggest that immigrants face fewer barriers to access in WIC and NSLP than they do for TANF, SNAP, and other benefits subject to immigration-related eligibility restrictions.

Finally Voting with Their Feet: Unleashing Market Discipline by Providing Choice to Public Housing Residents

paffairs@urban.org ( Molly M. Scott, Mary K. Cunningham) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

This commentary shares insights from Urban Institute research into the resident choice option for families living in public housing under HUD's new draft legislation, the Preservation, Enhancement, and Transformation of Rental Assistance Act of 2010.

Young Children of Immigrants: The Leading Edge of America's Future

paffairs@urban.org ( Karina Fortuny, Donald J. Hernandez, Ajay Chaudry) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Children of immigrants have nearly doubled as a share of pre-K to 3rd grade students since 1990. The share of children under age 8 with immigrant parents stood at 24 percent in 2008, up from 13 percent in 1990. Young children of immigrants account for more than 30 percent of children in seven states, with California leading the nation at 50 percent. The majority (93 percent) of children of immigrants are U.S. citizens. This fact sheet also includes state-by-state data on the number of children of immigrants and the number of children whose parents come from more than 130 countries.

Two-Generation Strategies and Involving Immigrant Parents in Children's Education

paffairs@urban.org ( Robert Crosnoe) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Intervening in the parent generation can improve current and future prospects in the child generation. Such two-generation strategies target either parents life circumstances or parenting behaviors. Because many immigrants do not have the English capabilities, inside knowledge about schools, or social standing, engaging them more fully in the educational process in the home, school, and community could bring academic returns for children. This paper describes two-generation approaches to the education of young children from immigrant families that center on parental involvement in education. It focuses on Latin American and Asian immigrants, who make up the bulk of the immigrant population.

Early Education Programs and Children of Immigrants: Learning Each Other's Language

paffairs@urban.org ( Hannah Matthews, Danielle Ewen) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Children from immigrant families are the fastest growing group of children in the United States. High-quality child care and early education opportunities will be critical to these childrens success in school and in life. Yet, the early experiences of children in immigrant families are as diverse and varied as immigrant families themselves. While many immigrant families face numerous barriers to accessing high-quality child care and early education for their young children, these barriers are not insurmountable. The paper discusses state and local solutions to improving access for immigrant families and specific strategies and collaborations among providers, policymakers, and immigrant-serving organizations.

More Than Half of Poor Infants Have Mothers Showing Signs of Depression

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

A new Urban Institute study offers the first national look at the characteristics, access to services, and parenting approaches of poor, depressed mothers with infants. Eleven percent of poor 9-month-old infants live with a mother suffering from severe depression symptoms. Among all infants nationally, the figures are 41 percent and seven percent, respectively.

Infants of Depressed Mothers Living in Poverty: Opportunities to Identify and Serve

paffairs@urban.org ( Tracy Vericker, Jennifer Ehrle Macomber, Olivia Golden) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

This brief offers a first-time national look at the characteristics, access to services, and parenting approaches for infants living in poverty whose mothers are depressed. Results reveal that eleven percent of infants living in poverty have a mother suffering from severe depression. At the same time, many of these families are connected to services, such as WIC, health care services, food stamps, and TANF, presenting opportunities for policymakers and service providers to help these families. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation funded this research as part of an Urban Institute project identifying service strategies to help connect depressed mothers with treatment.

Understanding Quality in Context: Child Care Centers, Communities, Markets, and Public Policy

paffairs@urban.org ( Monica Rohacek, Gina Adams, Ellen Kisker) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Early care and education can prepare children for school, but while some preschool and child care programs do an excellent job, others are inadequate and some may even harm healthy development. This study focuses on child care center directors to better understand why there is so much variation, and how public initiatives can better help poor-quality programs improve. Using data from in-depth interviews and classroom observations, the research considers how various factors—including director and program characteristics, market forces, and federal state and local policies—are associated with each other, director decision making, and program quality.

Kids' Share Data Appendix

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Kids' Share 2010: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2009, a fourth annual report, looks comprehensively at trends in federal spending and tax expenditures on children. This appendix details our data sources, the programs we include, and the methodology used to estimate the percentage of all expenditures that went to children.

Enhancing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification: SNAP Modernization Efforts : Final Report - Volumes I & II

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Urban Institute conducted a comprehensive study of state efforts to modernize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although modernization may be defined in many ways, this study adopted a broad definition of modernization described within four categoriespolicy changes, organizational changes, technological innovations, and partnering arrangements. The study included three data collection activities: initial site visits to four states; a national survey of all states, including a sample of local offices and partner organizations; and intensive case studies in 14 states. The states selected to participate in the case studies included Colorado, D.C., Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. The main focus of this report is on findings from the intensive case studies conducted between February and June 2009.

Progress Toward Self-Sufficiency for Low-Wage Workers

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs, Pamela J. Loprest, Caroline Ratcliffe) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Over the last decade, American social policy has increasingly focused on encouraging and requiring work for those receiving government supports. This study analyzes the dynamics of the low-wage labor market and the role of work supports in helping workers move toward economic self-sufficiency. Monthly data from January 2001 through January 2003 shows that over one-quarter of workers earn low wages. We find evidence that low-wage workers are moving to higher-wage jobs, but two years later, the majority of low-wage workers either remain in low-wage jobs or are not working. Our analysis provides some, although limited, evidence that government-provided work supports promote self-sufficiency.

Research on Financial Behaviors and Use of Small-Dollar Loans and Financial Services : Literature Review

paffairs@urban.org ( Brett Theodos, Jessica F. Compton) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Millions of American households, especially those in the bottom half of the income distribution, use nonbank credit products. This credit, while small in initial denomination, can add up to significant debt burdens for those who can least afford it. Yet, the extensive use of alternative financial sector services indicates that consumers perceive such services to be useful or necessary. This summary provides an overview of research on this sector. It reviews literature on five small-dollar credit products and financial services: auto title loans, pawnshops, payday lending, refund anticipation loans and checks, and rent-to-own borrowing.

Publicly Funded Jobs - Summary

paffairs@urban.org ( Clifford M. Johnson, Amy Rynell, Melissa Young) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

The need for direct public job creation efforts is greater today than at any time during the past seven decades. With a national unemployment rate that recently exceeded 10 percent, a new federal initiative that puts jobless individuals immediately to work must be a central element of any strategy for restoring economic growth and responding to pressing human needs in 2010 and beyond. Public service employment and transitional jobs programs offer tested and urgently needed models for combating the current recession and advancing longer-term workforce development goals.

Laboratories of Underfunding? State Financing for Antipoverty Efforts after the Recession - Summary

paffairs@urban.org ( Nicholas Johnson) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

States help finance most antipoverty programs, but there's a major flaw in this approach: in recessions, need goes up just as state revenues go down. The resulting budget gaps often lead to significant program cutbacks, even when caseloads are on the rise. Federal assistance during the recent recession helped states meet stepped-up demand, but funding is set to expire and unemployment is expected to remain high. Federal and state governments should repair this financing hitch now to protect antipoverty programs.

Postsecondary Education and Training as We Know It Is Not Enough - Summary

paffairs@urban.org ( Anthony P. Carnevale) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Obama administration has emphasized postsecondary education as the key to its jobs policy, continuing a long-held federal strategy while broadening its goals beyond traditional four-year schools. But disadvantaged students and working adults may still fall through the cracksand educating college-age youth alone can't meet the nation's employment and social policy objectives. While the focus on college has gone up, federal spending on adult employment and training programs and high school career and technical education has declined. As the nation recovers from the recession, we need to pay more attention to these alternative paths and do more to link education and jobs.

Reducing Poverty and Economic Distress after ARRA: Potential Roles for Place-Conscious Strategies - Summary

paffairs@urban.org ( Manuel Pastor, Margery Austin Turner) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Growing up poor is a challengeand growing up in a poor neighborhood is even more challenging. Because community distress undermines individual outcomes and trajectories, place-based strategies have played a role in anti-poverty efforts. The notion that we need to think of distressed neighborhoods in a broader metropolitan context, is relatively new. We argue that this approachconsidering place in metropolitan context, seeing neighborhoods as a platform for mobility, and understanding the critical role of organizingcould move the needle on poverty. The new administration understands this framework, but applying it across agencies and programs requires conscious effort and commitment.

Promising Antipoverty Strategies for Families - Summary

paffairs@urban.org ( Maria Cancian, Daniel R. Meyer, Deborah Reed) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

A large percentage of poor children live with just one parent, usually their mother, and single-parent families are more vulnerable to economic downturns than are two-parent families. Living arrangements also affect the optimal design of policies related to income support and child support. In this paper, we review changes in family structure, the relationship between family structure and employment, and early evidence on differential impacts of the recession on families. We then focus on policies that are essential to reducing poverty in the context of the current work-based safety net.