ABSTRACT
The United States has a long history of targeting social benefits. Developments in the field of psychology and social welfare have contributed to the notion that children's emotional and behavioral difficulties are related in large part to their parents' personal relationships, their parenting incapacities, and their personal and familial dysfunction. Legal immigrants, concerned about eligibility for these and other public benefits, and the potential future restrictions that may be placed on additional publicly available services, have determined that the effort to obtain citizenship may be a small price to pay for a public affirmation of their social acceptability. Behaviorally based targeting strategies offer one opportunity to shape the public duties of the poor by emphasizing personal responsibility in order to qualify for aid. Generally, "work" involves private or public unsubsidized or subsidized employment, including community service, but education, training, and job searching activities are strictly limited.
