Sharp Reduction in Black Child Poverty Due to Welfare Reform

Heritage Foundation PolicyWire ^ | June12, 2003 | Melissa G. Pardue

[bruinbirdman]

Over six years ago, Congress overhauled much of the nation's welfare system. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 19961 replaced the failed social program called Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The reform legislation had three primary goals: (1) reduce welfare dependence and increase employment, (2) reduce child poverty, and (3) reduce illegitimacy and strengthen marriage.

At the time of the law's enactment, many liberal groups made dire predictions about the terrible effect these reforms would have on America's children. In particular, the Children's Defense Fund claimed that welfare reform would cast millions more children into poverty and hunger.

These predictions were wrong, and welfare reform in fact produced the opposite results. Many groups, including academic institutions and public policy organizations, have published a wide variety of research showing the reform's undeniable success. The documentation of this success has already begun to play a crucial role in the TANF reauthorization process scheduled in Congress for the coming months.

Reduced Black Child Poverty

In the almost seven years since the welfare reform law was enacted, economic conditions have improved dramatically for America's poorest families. Welfare rolls have plummeted, employment of single mothers has increased dramatically, and child hunger has declined substantially. Most striking, however, has been the effect of welfare reform on child poverty, particularly among black children.

However, a report recently released by the Children's Defense Fund shows that the number of black children under age 18 living in extreme poverty increased to nearly one million in 2001.5 Extreme poverty is defined as having an after-tax income of less than half of the federally defined poverty line. For a family of three, the poverty line was $14,128 in 2001, which would make the extreme poverty line $7,064 for that year. These findings show an increase of roughly 145,000 black children in the extreme poverty category since the enactment of welfare reform.

Although not incorrect, these findings can mislead readers about the success of welfare reform by focusing on a narrow slice of the entire child poverty population that has otherwise significantly improved under the reformed welfare system. While the number of black children living in extreme poverty is certainly a cause for concern, the overall level of child poverty, particularly among black children, has made tremendous progress:

{} For the 25 years prior to welfare reform, the percentage of black children living in poverty remained virtually unchanged.

{} Since welfare reform, the poverty rate among black children has dropped by one-fourth, falling from 41.5 percent in 1995 to 30.0 percent in 2001.

{}The black child poverty rate is at its lowest point in U.S. history.

{} Since welfare reform, over 1.2 million black children have been lifted out of poverty.

{} Since welfare reform, six black children have been made better off and lifted out of poverty for every black child whose economic condition has worsened.

[netmilsmom]

Ping! to the Black Conservative List.

[Amelia]

Interesting article. Perhaps worth a ping to your lists, to read & keep for future reference?

[Mo1]

These predictions were wrong, and welfare reform in fact produced the opposite results

The liberals are always wrong

[BIGZ]

Liberal bias? You don't see much of this in the media.

An error of omision is an error.

[AlaskaErik]

The liberals oppose welfare reform for one simple reason...it gives people their dignity back and reduces their dependence on government, something they abhor. People who aren't victims aren't as likely to vote for the Rats.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Libloather]

...many liberal groups made dire predictions...

The same ones chatting about Iraq and WMD along with tax cuts and deficits?

My question - since the *Crinton '90s were SO damned prosperous, why is there any poverty left?

[PhiKapMom]

Amelia -- Thanks for the ping.

All -- Keep this article in mind as the 2004 elections get heated up and the RATs start talking about the poor "children." Looks like Hillary, Jesse Jackson, and RAT talking points about welfare reform hurting the poor and the blacks most are lies.

Why am I not surprised?

[Navy Patriot]

However, a report recently released by the Children's Defense Fund shows that the number of black children under age 18 living in extreme poverty increased to nearly one million in 2001.

Although not incorrect, these findings can mislead readers about the success of welfare reform by focusing on a narrow slice of the entire child poverty population that has otherwise significantly improved under the reformed welfare system.

Figures don't lie but liars can figure.

[DoughtyOne]

These findings show an increase of roughly 145,000 children in the extreme poverty category since the enactment of welfare reform.

Well a less dramatic way of looking at this, is you're probably only talking about 12,500 families. I would imagine that there's similar figures out there for hispanics and caucasians as well.

[BOBTHENAILER]

They are losing their cherished minority base very rapidly. 80% of Hipanics support Estrada'a nomination, that's gonna be a killer in a few key states.

Many blacks willnever forgive, nor should they, the treatment MacAuliffe gave Carl McCall in his gubernortorial run. Nor will they forget the throwing in the trashbin of State Supreme Court Justice Alan Paige, who indicated he would run in Wellstone's spot, only to be shunned in favor of a liberal has-been provider of daughters for Clinton's pleasure.

Nor will they forget that Maynard Jackson would have been a much bettert DNC head that Clinton clone Terry MacAuliffe. The list is long and growing longer.

They have lost the soccer moms who now like the safety and honesty provided by Bush, besides, soccer moms love SUV's and we all know the RAT position on those vile instruments of death and global warming.

And most telling, they have lost anybody who loves the military, has loved ones in the military and is proud as hell of what we have accomplished in two short years.

[PhiKapMom]

I would imagine that as well since they seem to have large families! When you take that few of families spread out across the Country, that is really very little!

[LibKill]

"Give a man a fish and you have fed him for one day. Teach him how to catch fish and you have fed him for a lifetime."

[deport]

bttt ..

Was this under a Republican Congress and signed by President Clinton?....

[Jorge]

Looks like Hillary, Jesse Jackson, and RAT talking points about welfare reform hurting the poor and the blacks most are lies.

Why am I not surprised?

Probably because they lie about everything else.

[DoughtyOne]

My comments were tongue in cheek, but the number of families is probably a lot smaller than the 145,000 mentioned, something like 45,000 at the very most.

Here's something else to think about. I don't for a minute think these figures are the whole story. People obtain funds in other ways under the table. Perhaps somebody stays with them and helps contribute. Perhaps mom or dad sends some funds. Perhaps some guy who think's the mom is a prize package helps support them for a while.

These and other ways of augmenting the supposed low incomes, are never revealed. And so we are left to think that this is a scathing blemish on our society, when I doubt very seriously that these incomes are the whole story.

Where they are, you can almost certainly be assured mom is scoring some "meds" if you catch my drift.

Where these are accurate figures and moms are striving to make a clean go of it, I do believe there are churches and other concerned groups who will help if asked. This is never mentioned.

[PhiKapMom]

With the size of some of the families on welfare, I thought your number could be right! LOL!! I do agree with what you have said!

Seriously, here in Oklahoma all anyone has to do is ask for help and some organization/church group will be right there. Would tend to believe that is true across the Country but that doesn't suit the agenda of the Hillary's and Jackson's of this Country. They would scour the Country to find someone with a dozen kids that are living beneath poverty and show it was the Republican Party's fault!

[PhiKapMom]

Agree with everything you have said. The RAT base is crumbling and will continue to crumble IMHO!

Think that is why they are so much on the attack but people are not buying their spin.

[PhilDragoo]

LBJ's six-trillion-dollar War On Poverty failed.

Republican welfare reform succeeded.

Butch Rod'Em is me-elting.