Authored by Hope Corman, Rider University, National Bureau of Economic Research; Nancy E. Reichman, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; and Kelly Noonan, Rider University, National Bureau of Economic Research. In this report, the authors estimate the effect of poor child health on the labor supply of mothers post welfare reform, using a national sample of mostly unwed parents and their children-a group at high risk of living in poverty. The researchers address the potential endogeneity of child health and find that having a young child in poor health reduces the mother's probability of working by eight percentage points and her hours of work by three per week when she is employed. These results suggest that children's health problems may diminish their families' capacity to invest in their health.

This research brief outlines the "Building Strong Families" project, which aims at helping new, unmarried parents gain the skills necessary to build healthy marriages. The project was created with expected outcomes to enhance the wellbeing of children in low-income families.

From the National Poverty Center, this article addresses the importance of living arrangements for children as emphasized in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Authors utilize longitudinal data to determine the effects of living arrangements on economic conditions for children and vice versa.

This special report is on family structure and children's well-being. It provides family structure breakouts for five indicators selected from the Population and Family Characteristics, Health, and Education sections of America's Children.

From the DC Kids Count Collaborative, this fact book reports on the wellbeing of children and families in Washington DC. It includes a report card that compares data from 2004 and 2005. For 2005, 22 out of 40 indicators changed for the better for children of DC, and 17 out of 40 changed for the worse.

Research from the National Center for Children in Poverty recently found that more than two out of every five children live in low-income families in the State of New York. Additionally, the income gap between the wealthiest families and the lowest-income families, residing in New York, is the largest in the nation. Despite receiving public benefits, including food stamps, public health insurance, and federal, state, and local income tax credits, many low-income families still struggle.

ACF Pacific Hub's 2-day “Strengthening Families” conference drew more than 435 community, State, Tribal, and national leaders to Seattle to hear and discuss ways to implement ACF's new family initiatives. The conference featured more than 30 speakers and 20 workshop sessions and is believed to be the largest such gathering ever assembled by ACF. The audience included child and family advocates, academics, Head Start grantees, health care workers, social workers, religious leaders, Tribal representatives, and public policy administrators.

This policy brief explores the position of women in the labor force over the past 25 years. Across all labor categories, the number of women in the workforce has increased, and the male/female wage gap has narrowed. Less-skilled women currently fare better than their male counterparts, but are not faring as well as women with more education.

Authored by Dr. Susan R. Crandall. Found in the Welfare Information Network's Issue Notes, Volume 8, Number 1. This resource provides guidance to States and localities on recognizing employer best practices, partnering with employers and agencies, targeting employers, and funding availability.

This policy brief gives evidence on the determinants of earnings advances for the working class. It considers the implications for a refined job advancement strategy for welfare recipients and other low earners. Based on the study, an effective job advancement strategy would aid the placement of low earners into jobs with higher-wage employers and would integrate with the private sector for further advancement opportunities.