Report Shows States Disagree with Bush Admin. on Welfare Reform; Center for Women Policy Studies Finds States Support College for TANF Recipients

1/14/2003

From: Ann Bowles of the Center for Women Policy Studies, 202-872-1770 ext. 209

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- According to a new report from the Center for Women Policy Studies, "From Poverty to Self-Sufficiency: The Role of Postsecondary Education in Welfare Reform," 49 states and the District of Columbia include some form of postsecondary education as an allowable work activity for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

In contrast, the Bush Administration's newly released TANF reauthorization proposal would not allow states the flexibility to open the doors to college training for eligible TANF recipients, despite substantial evidence that even one year of postsecondary education makes a difference for women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds - cutting their poverty rates in half.

"We believe that the purpose of welfare reform should not be simply to end welfare as we know it but rather to put a dent in women's and children's poverty," says Center president Leslie R. Wolfe. "We should not seek to move women from the ranks of the welfare poor to the ranks of the working poor - or the miserably married poor - but this is the ultimate outcome of the Administration's proposal."

The Center analyzed the TANF implementation statutes in all 50 states to prepare the report. The report also summarizes the most current research and data that demonstrate that college is the route to economic self-sufficiency for many low-income women.

However, most states require that TANF recipients' education be directly linked to jobs and most restrict college access to two years or less. Only 19 states and the District of Columbia allow college to count as work for more than two years.

The report is available at the Center's website at www.centerwomenpolicy.org. To request a hard copy -- contact Jaya Vasandani at the Center at policyasst@centerwomenpolicy.org or 202-872-1770 extension 215. To schedule an interview with Center president Leslie R. Wolfe, contact Ann Bowles at specasst@centerwomenpolicy.org or 202-872-1770 extension 209.