Scope and Application of the Family Violence Amendment to the New Welfare Law

• NCJ Number: 167055
• Author(s): M. F. Davis; P. Coukos
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper provides background information on why the Family Violence Amendment was added to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), P.L. 104- 193, guidelines for how it applies to TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) programs and requirements, and answers to a few common interpretation questions about how the Family Violence Amendment interacts with other requirements of the PRWORA.

Abstract

The Family Violence Amendment allows States to address domestic violence in crafting State welfare programs under the new TANF block grants. The Family Violence section of the welfare bill is available as a State option, allowing States to increase services and waive requirements for individuals victimized by domestic violence and sexual assault and abuse. States that adopt this option will not only improve safety and increase self- sufficiency for recipients, but will improve the States' ability to move women and children out of poverty. Because violence has a significant impact on a woman's ability to escape poverty, and economic insecurity impairs a woman's ability to escape violence, the amendment's provisions encourage States to include both increased services and flexible waivers in their State programs. Specifically, the amendment invites States to screen applicants for domestic violence while maintaining confidentiality, provide referrals to counseling and supportive services, and make good- cause waivers for certain welfare program requirements. For effective implementation of the Family Violence Amendment, States should examine how to safely, fairly, and effectively undertake notification, screening and referrals, and make waiver determinations. Materials prepared by experienced advocates and experts can provide valuable resources. Most importantly, the Family Violence Amendment is not a device for excluding individuals from job training and other services, but a tool to ensure that women can successfully move to employment with the flexibility they need. 7 notes and a copy of the Family Violence Amendment