title: Labor of love: foster mothers, caregiving, and welfare reform.
abstract: Using a telephone survey, this study examined the experiences of 100 foster mothers who receive aid through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Foster mothers reported numerous difficulties with TANF, including frequent sanctions and case closings, limited work and training opportunities, and pervasive material hardships. Foster children exhibited high levels of emotional and behavior problems. The data suggest that lack of access to child care and pressure to become self-sufficient may contribute to a decreased pool of foster mothers.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. fmc8@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Filomena M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Critelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011640:Public Policy; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States