Impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families on Poverty Rates in Kansas Carla Green Walden University
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families on Poverty Rates in Kansas Carla Green Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Carla Green has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Gregory Campbell, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Ross Alexander, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Victoria Landu-Adams, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2019 Abstract Impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families on Poverty Rates in Kansas by Carla Green MA, Baker University, 2007 BS, Kansas State University, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University August 2019 Abstract The impact of the length of time that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients receive benefits on their path out of poverty is not clear. The purpose of this qualitative study with a phenomenological design was to increase understanding of the comparative experiences of TANF recipients who reached their lifetime limit of 60 or 24 months to determine the impact of time limits on their path out of poverty and the fulfillment of the TANF goal and second purpose. Human capital theory provided the framework for the study. Using a purposive, homogenous sampling method, 6 social service professionals were selected to participate in this study. Only social service professionals who began serving in their role prior to November 1, 2011 were considered for participation because that is the date Kansas first reduced maximum TANF eligibility from 60 months. Data were collected from questionnaires and interviews with these 6 social service professionals. Inductive coding and theme analysis indicated that TANF participation did not reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. Although the reduction in the number of lifetime TANF eligibility months resulted in TANF participants being more focused and intentional in following TANF participation guidelines, poverty persisted. Findings may be used to influence Kansas legislators to enact social service policies at the county and local levels to increase financial self-sufficiency for Kansans exiting TANF. Impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families on Poverty Rates in Kansas by Carla Green MA, Baker University, 2007 BS, Kansas State University, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University August 2019 Dedication Daddy would be so proud. I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Dean and Barbara Whiteside, for their unwavering support and unconditional love. To my children, Victoria (Adrian), Victor (Bianca), and Aaric (India), thank you for your patience and understanding during those many times I wasn’t available. And to my amazing grandchildren, Victor, Kayden, Genesis, Maritza, Aaric, and Journee, who didn’t complain much when Nani was too busy to host sleepovers. Acknowledgments Where there is a way, the will follows. To Dr. Gregory Campbell, my dissertation chair, thank you for providing a way for me. Your leadership and your belief in my abilities challenged me and put me on the path to becoming a social change agent. To Dr. Monique Allen, my peer leader, thank you for the times you talked me off the ledge. Your zeal and your commitment to excellence kept me grounded and allowed me to finish this chapter in my life. Mom, thank you for being my 2:00 a.m. sounding board. And a special thank you to Dr. Ross Alexander and Dr. Victoria Landu-Adams, my committee members, for your timely and constructive feedback that assisted me in producing a quality dissertation. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................7 Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................7 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................7 Definitions......................................................................................................................8 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................9 Scope and Delimitations ................................................................................................9 Limitations ...................................................................................................................10 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................12 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................13 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................13 Welfare Reform ...........................................................................................................17 History of Welfare Reform ................................................................................... 17 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act .................... 22 Kansas’s TANF Policy ......................................................................................... 26 i Welfare to Work ..........................................................................................................30 Welfare Culture ..................................................................................................... 30 Barriers to Self-Sufficiency .................................................................................. 31 Kansas’s TANF Work Requirements and Time Limits ........................................ 32 Perception of Welfare Recipients ......................................................................... 34 Labor Market ...............................................................................................................35 Race and Labor Market Inequality ....................................................................... 36 Gender and Labor Market Inequality .................................................................... 37 Transitioning From Welfare to Work ................................................................... 39 Poverty .........................................................................................................................40 Race, Gender, and Poverty.................................................................................... 42 Poverty in DCF’s Kansas City Region ................................................................. 43 Gaps in Research..........................................................................................................44 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................45 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................47 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................48 Research Design.................................................................................................... 48 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 49 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................50 Methodology