Transition from Welfare to Work: TANF Program

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: The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides temporary relief and financial assistance for pregnant women and families. The state-operated program was designed to move mothers from welfare to work. It was created and implemented in 1996, and before this, there was not much help for families who needed it. Aside from the Social Security Act of 1935, state governments did not intervene until the 1960’s when they contracted with local nonprofit agencies to provide social services. This program was a fundamental change in the social welfare system because the government became stricter about welfare, and the requirements that needed to be met to maintain the aid. Clients were pressured into seeking steady employment, meanwhile …show more content…

I have experienced firsthand the weight that the program puts on its workers and how it affects the delivery of services for the clients receiving aid. From the paperwork, to the constant miscommunication about the services, my clients had a difficult time staying afloat while in the program. The idea behind welfare reform is to assist clients with receiving new skills and employment to help provide stability for their family. This idea is great and could be beneficial for clients, but there are many barriers that the government fails to consider when implementing the policy. The aid is helpful, but it is not impactful enough to help families rise above poverty. Abramovitz (2005) describes how welfare reform has had an adverse effect on the quality of life on the low-income communities. Studies found that women could not make ends meet on aid, and due to the demand of the program, workers had reduced time available to address the needs of their clients. There is a constant lack of support in the welfare system; the workers and the clients have trouble meeting the demands of the program. It is a vicious cycle of miscommunication where workers cannot keep up with their clients, and the clients are not listened to, understood, or supported. When I would help my clients renew their aid, the office was always packed with people, had very

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