ABSTRACT
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is designed to offer cash assistance to low-income families, the majority of whom are headed by single mothers. In general, typical service activities of TANF staff focus on accessing employment-related information for clients, assessing and addressing barriers to employment, and offering services to propel and support movement into the labor market (Nightingale, Kramer, Trutko, Egner, & Barnow, 2003; Thompson, Van Nexx, & O'Brien, 2001). Child welfare services are designed to support parents in their parenting role and protect children from maltreatment. Typical service activities of child welfare staff center on assessing child safety, determining family problems and needs, and accessing resources to support parents and reduce the likelihood of maltreatment recurrence (Ginsberg, 2001). While the goals of these programs differ, they share a great deal in common. Both programs target families struggling to get by in one or more life domains; they also largely serve very young children. Two-thirds of clients involved in TANF are children, and half of these are ages six or younger (U.S. House of Representatives, 2004). Of the cases reported to child welfare services, the youngest among these are the most likely to be victimized (USDHHS, 2005). Both programs are aimed at assisting parents in their roles vis-a-vis children: TANF focuses on the parent's role as a provider, and child welfare focuses on the parent's role as a caregiver. In many cases, both programs also target-largely or entirely-populations struggling with the challenges posed by American poverty.
