Recently welfare reform has been a serious topic of interest for both the public and politicians alike. Among concerns and mounting evidence that the welfare program AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) was encouraging reliance instead of self-sufficiency, the program was replaced in 1996 by TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). There have been significant shifts in the way policy should “assist” American families who find themselves unable to fulfill the family function of creating economic security for themselves. Thoughts on welfare reform shifted from addressing particular problems (cash assistance) to focusing on how to prevent these debilitating situations before they occur (service programs). Additionally, the focus was redirected from the one individual who presented with the problem or issue to addressing the needs of the entire family affected. According to Bogenschneider (2014), the new focus reflects that “the motivating premise is that a preventative, family-focused, policy perspective cannot be realized if services are structured around specific helping technologies delivered through narrow, categorical delivery mechanisms” (p.168). …show more content…
Research gathered from many different areas of family policy also supports the idea that it is essential to incorporate a family’s success in a program for the best outcomes possible, and the newer welfare reform policies seem to be taking this evidence into account. However, there are still areas for improvement that must be