Dec 26, 2024  
2004-2005 Law Catalog 
    
2004-2005 Law Catalog [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

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LAW 2895 - Law and the Welfare State


The focus of this seminar is (1) the first five years of implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, and (2) current interest in the expanded use of public-private partnerships (that is, between government and nonprofit organizations, but especially faith-based and community groups) to deliver government benefits and address social problems. PRWORA brought significant changes to the structure of government benefit programs and was before Congress for reauthorization in 2002. We study such matters as the success of welfare to work programs, remaining challenges in supporting work by low-wage workers through various nongovernmental and governmental programs (such as child care, food stamps, health care) and in moving the most disadvantaged persons into work, the impact of welfare reform on family and child well-being, the efforts to link more closely “responsible fatherhood” and marriage promotion to welfare reform, and welfare reform and immigration. With respect to public-private partnerships, the “charitable choice” provision of PRWORA was intended to make it easier for religious organizations to provide welfare services. We study the impact of “charitable choice” and also take up current proposals to make greater use of partnerships with faithbased and community groups to deliver government benefits and address families’ needs and problems. Depending upon time and student interest, we may also look at current efforts to reform Social Security and/or health care. Students may write a research paper, write two shorter papers, or take an exam.

Credits: 2





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