Social policies can be legislative or principle in nature. The overall plan of any such strategy is to alleviate human suffering by ensuring the provision of necessities. Such services range from education, healthcare, and even housing, all of which is a human being’s fundamental right. The intent is to ensure that a human being is accorded the decency they deserve as these policies aim to meet their basic needs. Despite many sociological discrepancies, any human being should be a party to the following amenities. Ample health care services, social justice, proper living conditions, education reforms, decent housing schemes, general development, and social inclusion, among other essential changes. The value system underpinning any social policy is the constitutional right to equal protection under the law. In the U.S, this is a provision of the 14th amendment. Although the social reforms vary from nation to nation, the governing principles remain unchanged. The policies are fuelled by different social movements that radicalize the thinking of a society. From race to religion and general humanitarian reasons, social movements tend to have a historical effect on the social policies of a country. Social policies help to mold the thinking of people and help them to tend towards social justice and care for the vulnerable in their society. The overall impact of any social policy, therefore, is an improvement in the welfare of a community as well as the general development of a country. The social system does have its intricacies. These principles and whether or not they are adhered to form the bulk of its success or failure to effect the desired change.
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a policy instituted to reform the welfare system. It was a result of numerous conversations and debates through about a decade or four. The block grant was finally instated in 1996 as part of a welfare reform law. It was an attempt at fixing the assistance previously provided to needy families, specifically those of single mothers as the family heads. TANF is a resultant policy that stems from the early ’50s. Back then, social reform was seen as social security. It was manlily pegged to financial aid during old age. It was an insurance offer for those who had become incapacitated, physically or otherwise, as ruled by the relevant courts. What followed was the Aid to dependent children (ADC), which paved the way for needy family reforms.
The ADC program aimed to give grants that could help children undergoing tough socio-economic times. The regard was for children whose parents specifically battled mental, physical, and other incapacitations for whatever reason. As a result of these issues, the parents were rendered unfit or unable to care for their children leading to low parental involvement in their children’s lives. Statistically speaking, the programs alleviated the stress of women of color but were not limited to them. Such families were associated with the high rates of incarceration in the mid-1950s. Despite its numerous successes, there was a need to amend some of the functional units of the ADC. The program was therefore renamed to Aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) in 1962. It saw the inclusion of other aspects relevant to these families and aiming to improve the overall system for good. The AFDC was remade with the particular intention of increasing the self- sufficient nature of a single mother. Initially, ADC gave financial assistance to any person who met the requirements without helping them become self-sufficient. AFDC, therefore, strengthened capacities of the entire families by ensuring these mothers could remain productive and reduce their dependency on government welfare.
In 1960-1990, there brewed a lot of contention on the usefulness of all these reforms. The aim was to reduce vulnerability in the long run. Subsequently, TANF was born in 1996 after previous bills were multiply vetoed. The TANF was a tweak in the AFDC to reduce welfare costs while ensuring vulnerable families become more independent. TANF ran from 1996 up to date and has undergone various moderations to become what it is. The policy aims to total dependence of families on government funding. The goal is slowly being achieved by the instituting of a five year limit on how long one can potentially receive the benefits. It sees to it that single-parent families get training and gain relevant skills to help them become independent. Its funding is in terms of grants rendered to states as well as complimentary finance to any state with a higher propensity to achieving TANF goals. The policy also promotes the standing of healthy marriages in order to reduce children conceived out of wedlock eventually. Since 1996, TANF has been dependent on short-term extensions to remain afloat and fully functional. Once the extensions expire, a new expansion is granted after proper channels are followed. The temporal aspect of TANF is the main difference between this social policy and other previous reforms.
The federal government regulates TANF assistance. Some aspects may vary from one state to the next, but the differences are not overstated. It targets families who have needy children in their midst. According to its bylaws, a needy child is described as an underage person. The definition also extends to an 18- year old person who is enrolled within a high school program at the time of application. The target population of the TANF program, therefore, is needy families. These are families that are headed by single parents, usually the mother and consist of one or two children. The parent is often unemployed and needs extra support in raising the children. In 2017 it was reported that up to 84% of the beneficiaries were unemployed adults who were reported to be the heads of their families. Recipients of the program are residents of any state that are deemed unable to meet basic needs. Every state has the power to regulate the funds as they see fit. The exercise of power is controlled by the federal government, which imposes punishments of a fiscal nature if TANF goals remain unmet. Families with up to 5 children benefit from the program. Over time, the families have reported that cash assistance has remained inadequate. Therefore, states add on benefits that could potentially alleviate poverty, such as they see fit. Such benefit schemes are also subject to eligibility. Those who engage in work-related activities like and seminars also benefit highly. They are considered ‘successes’ of the program and are compensated after that in terms of benefits.
Couples or single individuals without children cannot benefit from this scheme. TANF laws, as well as federal law, do not permit families of an adult who has benefited from the plan for five years to keep on reaping the benefits. Another category that cannot benefit from the scheme is unsupervised teenage parents who live freely without abiding by TANF regulations. If the teenage couple is married and has a child that is older than 13 weeks but is not enrolled in a high school program themselves, they also cannot participate. Another apparent cause for withdrawal and subsequent lack of benefits are individuals who violate the law while in the program. At times, individuals falsify information to benefit. In case this is discovered, they shall immediately be disqualified from TANF’s beneficiaries list. A particular group of non-citizens is also ineligible and cannot benefit from the program. In case a member stops working while already enrolled in the program, this may also be cause for termination of the membership and immediate revoking of certain benefits. These jobs are subject to leniency based on TANF guidelines, as some may only involve up to 30 hours of work per week. Those unwilling to participate in work-related activities also do not benefit from TANF.
Although the TANF program does not limit its definition of need, it does have specific criteria as to how beneficiaries are chosen for the benefits. The most obvious requirement is one on citizenship. The applicants must reside in the state they apply in as well as meet the immigration requirements if not a resident. TANF officials must administer a test concerning the family’s finances. Reference is made to the country’s index for poverty. Participants must meet a certain fraction of the entire index to be deemed as eligible for TANF. The earnings required of candidates depends on one’s state. The TANF ‘family’ is sectioned into stages. There are entry-level participants and those on rolls. For new participants, there was a need to state your assets to prove your need. That requirement is slowly being eliminated in many states because TANF does not ascribe to a specific definition of the word need. In place of this, they merely take a keen look at your income and determine if one is fit for the program. For states that still uphold the asset test, some possessions are strictly valued and are used to determine one’s level of need. For example, if one had property, they would evaluate the cost of maintenance against other variables to decide on its total value and whether the individual fits into the need category. Upon qualification, the new member must then ensure that they come up with a self-sustenance plan to make sure they stay on track with the roll and continue being eligible until the 5- year period elapses. The plan helps beneficiaries to work off the TANF assistance and make sure they stay post-TANF afloat. Qualified candidates are therefore advised to apply for further benefits, which are conferred to them if the board passes their eligibility for them.
Several other social welfare policies address similar issues to TANF. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act previously abbreviated as WIA is one of them. It assists those with an urge to join the workforce by giving them relevant opportunities. These opportunities include and education services that prepare them for this field. The aim is to provide them with a skillset so adequate that they cannot be marginalized or left out. As in TANF, it enables people to become self-sufficient regardless of their financial standing. It is inclusive of vulnerable members of society, including those with special needs and the elderly. WIA was instituted in 1998 and later changed to WIOA in 2014. Historically speaking, it stemmed from training programs in 1962. It was known as the Manpower Development Training Act (MTDA). It was a response to industrialization after the war, which had caused some layoffs. It also insured those who were unemployed at the time. A bulk of the funding also went to those already working but needed assistance. It was because of low incomes reported due to limited skillsets. In 1973, the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) was unveiled as an improvement to MTDA. It was centered on devolution and ensuring that decisions were made by those who were most affected by them rather than by the federal government. Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) was later instated in 1982. It was explicitly focused on the re-attachment of employees after being let go and training of individuals for target positions. The aim was to shift the thinking from public sector employment to self-sufficient training. All these policies culminated in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which was enacted in 1998. It upheld the same values as the JTPA and, in so doing, only increased capacity for its members. The emphasis remained on but added other activities and services. In 2014, it was instated by an Act and renamed WIOA. It brought with it some reforms. There was an educational reform that assists individuals in getting investments in their funding. The change helps increase accountability at a state level. The federal government may, at times, seek a full report on how funding was used and how operations run. The act is very development-oriented and helps align the goals of the program with those of the federal government.
Those considered as eligible include youth who are unable to get jobs because of one reason or another. Usually, the age ranges from 14-24 years. The program assists them in gaining the necessary skills they require for job applications. It also caters to those who are still pursuing their schoolwork by improving their propensity to get jobs after school. They are given a chance to shadow their mentors and sharpen literacy skills. At times, individuals are enrolled in internship programs to provide them with a feel of real-world employment. The program, however, has a special section that caters to youth who are out of school. They must be over 18 years of age or older. The other eligible group is those who have previously been laid off from work. Dislocated individuals can be broadened in definition to include those who are self- employed as well as that off-duty from Special Forces such as the marines.
Benefits of WIOA vary from one individual to the next based on who they are. For youths, they can get a head start in completing their studies. They are given opportunities to gain relevant work experience. They are trained regularly and assisted in getting specialized skills. As for the employed section of beneficiaries, they are equipped with more capabilities that could potentially see to them getting new and better job opportunities. In the case of those employed on a contractual basis, they are equipped to get more permanent jobs. The training received also helps them prevent layoffs. As for the community as a whole, it assists them in reduced dependency on government programs, just like the TANF. The bulk of the beneficiaries, which are those seeking jobs, WIOA helps by giving them advice and assisting them in planning their career. They get assistance in placements once training is done. They are also offered an opportunity to further their education.
The triggers for change that necessitated TANF were many. Among the main reasons was the expansion of the social policy’s statutory purpose. Generally, AFDC covered the care of needy children and those taking care of them to ensure they live comfortably. There was hence a need to enhance the flexible nature of the state in conducting social change. Therefore, TANF took over by prioritizing the need for building self-sufficient families. Globalization could also be seen as a trigger because there is a need to better interaction on a global level. The policy assisted in building networks because those involved undergo training as a benefit accrued from TANF’s membership. Another trigger was the increased costs related to funding. TANF was necessary to come up with a way to reduce expenditure but still cater to needy families. It is a central problem that was fixed by the 5-year restriction enforced by TANF. An assessment also proved misappropriation of funds by AFDC, which made the shift to TANF all the more necessary. Reforms were geared toward the appropriate use of resources allotted to the policy and proper documentation of the same. Lastly, government funding had become scarce. Seeing that every state was funded individually, some states suffered because of low per-capita income. TANF came along with the concept of Maintenance of Effort, which gives the policy additional funding in addition to other sources.
Like in any other reform for change, TANF does not lack the conflict department. Some areas still pose challenges to their functioning and progression. Despite it being a social reform, politics does take precedence at times. It could be because TANF gets some of its funding from the federal government. If such propaganda begins to crop in, it will potentially affect the pristine nature of social reform. Finances; how they are spent and acquired is always cause for conflict. In cases of lack of uniformity in how to allocate benefits among states, those expected to reap from the scheme, do not.
The TANF block allocation funding from the initial grant was highly contested. Over the years, it reduced significantly because of economic regression. Some states also complain about the criterion used to allocate the funds per state. The temporal aspect associated with social policy is another conflict area. In 1996, President Clinton passed this law for six subsequent years. It, therefore, means that the policy needs renewal now and then. It was a point of serious contention among states and other stakeholders because it affects the running of specific programs. TANF conflict areas also involved the poor reception by recipient families. They were not happy that they had to stay on welfare for only a time before it was refused. They feel like the work requirement is a burden. A section of the single mothers argued that getting a job was nearly impossible within the time frames hence forcing them to drop out of the program. TANF is associated with an increasing number of single-parent families. Opposing groups say that despite the numerous reforms introduced by TANF, the number of teen pregnancies has increased. They feel like it could have done more to put provisions in place to not only to make women self -sufficient but also reduce the problem at its root. The claim is that the policy treats rather than prevents, and this has posed conflict amongst proponents and opposition. Another conflict theory is that the policy perpetuates the growing numbers of low-earning fathers. The policy increases the number of job- going women. It may, in turn, lead to men staying at home with their children, and the entire cycle is repeated only in this case, for men. Those eligible for TANF are not always eligible for other programs such as Medicaid. AFDC used to allow those qualified for it to receive Medicaid and other allocations of the federal government automatically. The policy is also rumored to have adverse effects on children. The assumption is that if the mothers go to work, they might end up leaving their children unattended. Another conflict area that has raised concern is the fact that the policy does not ensure retention of acquired jobs, nor does it help in the advancement of education and related skills. The worry is that these mothers, who go into the job industry, and relinquish their welfare benefits, lose their jobs shortly after.
TANF has garnered the support of many other social movements that have similar principles governing them. Most of these movements are humanitarian hence appeal to the humanity in people. Feminist social groups are, for instance, among the main supporters of TANF because it assists the vulnerable, specifically the single women with children. As are the ideals of feminism, TANF has been a social policy that has cemented the place of a woman as a provider for their families. Civil rights movements have also supported the need for TANF because of their similarity in appealing to the 14th amendment. The provision sees to it that members of society are accorded equal rights protection under the law regardless of who they are.
In conclusion, social reforms are purposively instituted to provide a chance for everyone to contribute to a better society. Social changes usually require support from key political and social influencers who have the people’s best interests at heart. Education and training are the epicenters of good reform. People need to understand the need for change as well as see the benefits of supporting it. The improvements also assist in preparing coherent young individuals who are being groomed into the future of nations. A social reform generally affects all aspects of a country, mainly the economic sector. A good society needs to hold a reflection of the current status of any country. It must also consider the intricacies of a particular community and maintain balance. In so doing, it will cater to the needs of the people and leave out any unnecessary social change. To tend towards ultimate civilization, I encourage more social reforms as long as they have the interests of its people at their core.