Single mothers’ is the population that I will be discussing in this paper. Welfare reform and its impact on single mothers’ well-being is the social problem that I’ve chosen to analyze. Single mothers that are welfare recipients often go through different experiences that affect their well-being. However, the Welfare reform changes have been a factor that has contributed to their well-being positively and negatively. The goal of the reform is to cut down on social spending programs and ultimately end poverty. Welfare reform has promoted a new way of receiving public assistance with placing emphasis on self- sufficiency through employment. It also projected the idea of marriage in efforts to decrease out of wedlock …show more content…
Many people were unemployed and were in need. In 1935 is when the Social Security Act was passed into law. Stern et.al notes that Social Security Act was a “landmark in American political and social history, reflecting a public commitment to the economic rights of people…extending federal responsibility for social welfare” (p.183). After reading this in the text, I interpreted the statement to mean that this law that was passed opened the door for other programs to be created. As a result of the Social Security Act a federal social program called Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) was established. ADC intended purpose was to provide financial assistance to women who were poor widows and women who were abandoned and had children. During President Roosevelt’s administration, there was a New Deal that he proposed. Under the New Deal there were a series of social problems that were addressed, but poverty and social welfare was a popular area. Midgley (2001) notes that “The programme was administered by the states, but relied extensively on federal matching funds…The programme was later renamed to Aid to Families with Dependent Children or AFDC” (p.285). After reading this in the text, I had an understanding that the program was distributed by the states and they relied on funding from the federal government name changed to accommodate mothers who had dependent children to take care of. I also learned