Grandma's Babies: The Problem of Welfare Eligibility for Children Raised by Relatives

Authors

Rebecca L. Hegar, University of Texas, Arlington
Maria Scannapieco, University of Texas, Arlington

Abstract

This article provides a brief history of children raised by relatives and examines the welfare eligibility of these families, emphasizing changes under the Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PR&WOA). The revolution in public welfare places many care-giving relatives atfinancial risk. Depending on their states' plans for implementing the PR& WOA, children and their relative caregivers may lose state support. The article presents the social welfare policy responses of a number of states to the problems of kinship care-giving, formal kinship foster care, the PR&WOA, and other social welfare provisions. Unintended consequences of welfare reform are highlighted.

Recommended Citation

Hegar, Rebecca L. and Scannapieco, Maria (2000) "Grandma's Babies: The Problem of Welfare Eligibility for Children Raised by Relatives," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 27: Iss. 3, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2669
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol27/iss3/10