Fragile families and welfare reform part II

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA ) of 1996 shifts more of the responsibility for poor children's well-being from government to parents. Taken together, the new laws in PRWORA promote marriage and family formation by making it nearly impossible for single mot hers to rely on welfare for long periods of time and by making it increasin gly difficult for non-resident fathers to avoid supporting their children. How will this new legislation affect children of poor single mothers? Many believe that these children will be better off if their mothers worked and their fathers were more involved in their lives. Others argue that these ch ildren will not be better off, claiming the new legislation will reduce the quantity and quality of parenting, encourage contact with possibly dangero us or violent fathers, and increase conflict between parents. A third possi bility is that the effects of TANF will depend upon other environmental fac tors, such as the strength of the labor market and the availability of more universal public programs for families with children.