ABSTRACT
Parental financial responsibility traditionally has been considered a private matter decided within the family, but has become public interest as government officials and helping professionals have sought ways to combat high poverty rates for single parents and their children. Politicians exploit cultural beliefs about parental financial obligations in the wording used in laws and social policy. For example, welfare reform has been relabeled the personal responsibility act, indicating an expectation that parents, not the federal or state government, should support their children. This relabeling was chosen purposely by politicians to reflect a shift in responsibility away from the state and back to the family.
