TRANSMISSION OF FAMILY VALUES, WORK, AND WELFARE AMONG POOR URBAN BLACK-WOMEN

Life histories of poor urban Black women indicate that intrafamilial t ransmission of values about work and welfare is associated with young adult work status and perceptions about future economic self-sufficien cy. Multifaceted transmissions in the form of direct parent-child comm unications about the value of work tangible support from family and/or outside resources, and multiple examples of work attachment are assoc iated with employment and perceptions of future self-sufficiency, rega rdless of teenage childbearing status. Where such transmissions are un idimensional, limited or absent, the women are more likely to be unemp loyed and predict future economic dependency Policy implications are d irected at work programs, schools, and community-based job training an d guidance for youth and their families.