The Impact of Welfare
Reform on Child Welfare
and Child Protective Services: A Literature Review
Morgan B. Ward Doran
and Dorothy E. Roberts
Abstract
This paper provides a review of the current research
on the impact of welfare reform on child welfare and child protective
services. Our goal is to examine both the changes in welfare policy
mandated by the reform and the implications of these changes for
youth involved in the child welfare system. We begin with a discussion
of the background factors that are closely associated with child
welfare involvement, giving special attention to the context of
poverty. Next, we examine the impact that welfare reform may have
on families and on parents" ability to care adequately for
their children. We discuss the history of welfare reform and the
modern emphasis on shaping the behavior of TANF recipients. In the
following section, we examine the potential impact that welfare
reform may have on child welfare involvement. We conclude this literature
review with our assessment of the gaps in the research and important
questions for future study.
Morgan B. Ward Doran, Graduate
student, School of Law and School of Education and Social Policy,
Northwestern University
Dorothy E. Roberts, School of Law, Northwestern University
To Order:
Hard copies of IPR working papers cost $5.00 each (international orders are $10 each). We only accept checks drawn on U.S. bank and payable in U.S. funds. Checks or
money orders should be made payable to Northwestern University and sent to
the following address:
Publications Department - WP Orders
Institute for Policy Research
2040 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL 60208-4100.
For information, call 847-491-8712 or email ipr@northwestern.edu.
Please note that we do not accept credit cards.
