In the years since the 1996 welfare reform legislation, some states reported greater declines in the number of teen parents receiving TANF relative to the general caseload declines. Limited qualitative information indicated that some teens were being turned away at local TANF offices, without having the opportunity to complete applications. As a result, CIR--in collaboration with local organizations in each city--surveyed over 1500 low-income teen mothers in Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta to determine why they were or were not receiving assistance. The project, which began in March 2000, employed teen mothers to do the community-based survey work. The survey found that teen parents were having trouble accessing and keeping TANF benefits; that many teen parents were not staying "on-track" with school; and that teen parents-especially those not receiving TANF assistance-were not accessing other important assistance programs. CIR made recommendations for new policies and procedures for Illinois teens applying for TANF, as well as recommendations for the reauthorization of the federal welfare reform legislation.

For further information, contact Lise McKean at CIR at lmckean@impactresearch.org.

Project Publications

Knocking on the Door: Barriers to Welfare and Other Assistance for Teen Parents
4/02
Results of a survey conducted by young mothers in Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago, and recommendations for the federal reauthorization of TANF.
Executive Summary
Full Report

Accessing TANF Assistance: A Survey of Low-Income Young Mothers in Chicago
4/02
A report detailing the trouble that young mothers have in accessing and keeping TANF assistance in Chicago.
Executive Summary
Full Report


Individual reports detailing the findings of the surveys in Atlanta and Boston are available from the following organizations:

Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (in Atlanta)
Alliance for Young Families (in Boston)