- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- The impact of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act on access to postsecondary education for temporary assitance to needy families recipients in Jackson, Mississippi in 2011, 2013
- Creator:
- Brown, Charlette
- Date of Original:
- 2010/2019
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
dissertations - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- This study examines the extent to which the educational component of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act impacted African-American TANF recipients' access to postsecondary education in Jackson, Mississippi in 2011. This study was based on the premise that policies within the legislation restrict opportunities for welfare recipients to pursue postsecondary education as a pathway to self-sufficiency. For welfare recipients who often believe that college is inaccessible due to financial means, access is especially important for them. Participants in this study were thirty-two African-American women receiving TANF benefits from the State of Mississippi who were either enrolled in a college program or participated in the job readiness training supported by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. A qualitative research methodology was used to analyze the data. The data revealed that there is total consensus among the participants on the importance of postsecondaryeducation as a measure of future economic well-being for themselves and their families. Findings specifically revealed that many of the participants strongly believe that policies associated with welfare reform have prevented or denied them full access to education and that some of the policies should be changed. The conclusions drawn from the findings suggest that the 1996 Welfare Act impacted access to postsecondary education for TANF recipients in Jackson, Mississippi to some degree; and that after 15 years of stagnated welfare reform policies, specifically policies associated with work requirements, TANF recipients in Mississippi are longing for better educational opportunities that will allow them to enjoy a self-sustaining lifestyle.
Date of award: 7/1/2013
Degree type: dissertation
Degree name: Doctor of Arts (DA)H
Granting institution: Clark Atlanta University
Department: School of Arts and Sciences, African-American Studies
Advisor: Bradley, Josephine B.
Advisor: Elonge, Henry
Advisor: Taylor, Sandra - Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2013_brown_charlette
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
