Research Catalog

Title

Mothers' work and children's lives : low-income families after welfare reform / Rucker C. Johnson, Ariel Kalil, Rachel E. Dunifon ; with Barbara Ray.

Author

Johnson, Rucker C.

Publication

Kalamazoo, Mich. : W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 2010.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Kalil, Ariel
• Dunifon, Rachel E. (Rachel Elizabeth)

Description

xi, 147 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Summary

"Basing their findings on the Women's Employment Study (WES), the authors provide evidence of the links between maternal work experiences and longer-run trajectories of child well-being. When a working mother is not on a regular work schedule, has hours that fluctuate from week to week, or works at a full-time job that presents limited wage growth and menial tasks, her children's behavior is more likely to deteriorate. Similar results are seen for those who bounce from job to job or are laid off or fired, since this churning often leads to frequent residential moves. The aspects of child well-being that the unique data from the WES allow the authors to examine include externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems, disruptive behavior at school, school absenteeism, grade repetition, and placement in special education. Johnson, Kalil, and Dunifon conclude that more employment opportunities offering the flexibility required by working parents to balance their work and family lives, along with affordable and safe housing, health insurance, and reliable child care, are needed to bolster the economic security and child well-being of low-income working families. Overall, this book sheds light on whether one of TANF's original goals--putting low-income mothers on a path to economic growth--is being met."--From publisher description.

Uniform Title

Project Muse UPCC books

Subject

• Low-income mothers > United States > Social conditions
• Child care > United States
• Public welfare > United States

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

The road to welfare reform -- The women's employment study : context and content -- The effect of low-income mothers' employment on children -- Conclusions and policy implications.

ISBN

• 9780880993562 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 0880993561 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 9780880993586 (hardcover : alk. paper)
• 0880993588 (hardcover : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2009048131

OCLC

• 320800522
• SCSB-12505315

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library