Measuring and Modeling Cross-State Variation in Social Policy for Children and Families

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Social policy governance in the US is highly fragmented in terms of categorical eligibility (targeting benefits to specific populations) and the tiered structure of responsibility for program design and delivery across federal, state, and local levels of government. This panel demonstrates the benefits of taking a state-level perspective on measuring and modeling social policy for children and families. Children and families represent two of the most targeted populations for social, health, economic, and educational policies and many of these programs and policies targeted these groups are administered, financed, and/or designed by different combinations of local, state, and federal governments. The papers also represent the diversity of methodological choices and range of policy choices and design features that can be used to further understanding of policy and administration outcomes for children and families.  The approaches taken range from measuring social policy adoption choices and administrative rules to using compiling and using expenditure data to capturing program outputs including caseloads and other measures of access and take-up. Each of these capture different aspects of the policy adoption, design, and implementation phases and incorporate a broad view that is inclusive of federal and state policy choices as well as state and local administrative processes. Each paper draws on a different combination of data from federal and state administrative sources and Census household surveys to calculate and/or simulate state-level policy measures of support for children and families. Individually and collectively, these papers provide an overview of their measurement strategies and priorities and describe the extent of cross-state variation in the social support available to families with children. Each paper on the panel demonstrates the insights that can be gained by putting together unique datasets using a combination of data sources and techniques to measure social policy variation across the states, and provides insights into the design, efficacy, and experience of these policies.

Policy Area

• Family and Child Policy

Chair

• Hope Harvey, University of Kentucky

Discussants

• Lucie G. Schmidt, Smith College

• Jiwan Lee, Brown University

Organizer

• Sarah Bruch, University of Delaware

Individual Presentations

• Measuring the Impact of Earned Income Disregards on Initial VS Ongoing Eligibility in the TANF Program - Presenting Author: Ilham Dehry, Urban Institute

• State Safety Nets and Work Incentives - Presenting Author: Janina Curtis Bröker, Brookings Institution

• Devolution in the Details: Understanding State Social Safety Net Policy Responses in a Post-Welfare Reform Era - Presenting Author: Arun Chaudhary, University of Delaware

• Person-Based and Place-Based Investments in Children - Presenting Author: Alexandra Cooperstock, Teachers College, Columbia University