Preschool and school age children under welfare reform

This study compared the behavioral and school problems of young children wh ose mothers participated in two different income support programs, Jobs Fir st and AFDC. The analyses also included measures of maternal education, mat ernal health, maternal psychological factors, and family environment. There were no differences in child school or behavioral problems across the inco me support programs. Children, however, were more likely to have school pro blems if they were older or if their mothers received less than a high scho ol education, reported child behavioral problems or made criteria for depre ssion on the CIDI Behavioral problems were more likely to occur if mothers reported violence in the home, many depressive symptoms on the CES-D, few c hild positive qualities, or if the child had repeated a grade. Several fami lial factors, then, must be addressed in order to ensure that children exce l both academically and behaviorally.