130 - Special Session. 20 Years since Welfare Reform

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Description

The passage of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) set a new and definitive tone in the United States’ stance toward aid to the poor, that of time-limited cash assistance. At the same time, the Affordable Care Act, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), and the Earned Income Tax Credit have gained increased attention as important policies and programs for low-income individuals. What is the current state of the social safety net for low-income families, and what are the lasting effects of these massive shifts to the welfare system? What are the current dimensions of poverty in the US and how do they differ from the pre-PRWORA era? In this session, leading scholars in the field will reflect on the political, economic, and social impact of welfare reform and point to new directions in the study of poverty, social policy, and collective organizing by and for the poor.

Sub Unit

• Special Sessions

Session Organizer

• Celeste M. Watkins-Hayes, Northwestern University

Presider

• Celeste M. Watkins-Hayes, Northwestern University

Panelists

• Linda Marie Burton, Duke University

• Ellen R. Reese, Univ of California-Riverside

• Scott W. Allard, University of Washington