ASSISTING YOUNG, UNMARRIED MOTHERS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT - THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EARLY ECONOMIC SUPPORT

This article examines a sample of young, married mothers from the Pane l Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and considers how different types of economic support received soon after their first child is born contri butes to the later self sufficiency of young, unmarried mothers. It ex pands conventional categories of income support-AFDC, food stamps, chi ld support-to include shared housing and relatives' assistance. The mo del also contains various behaviors of young mothers after the birth o f their first child. The findings suggest that certain economic suppor ts assist these mothers and that life choices they make after their ch ild's birth are important to self-sufficiency.