Recent Changes in Alabama Welfare and Work, Child Care, and Child Welfare Systems. State Update No. 10. Assessing the New Federalism: An Urban Institute Program To Assess Changing Social Policies

Alabama has a long history of providing a modest safety net for low-income families and children. This report examines Alabama's cash assistance, workforce development, child care, and child welfare systems for low-income families with children. Information comes from interviews with managers and front-line workers, focus groups with parents and child care providers, and interviews with child welfare administrators. The report begins with a profile of Alabama's demographic, economic, and political conditions, then presents an overview of the state's income support and social services systems, including caseload statistics. The next three sections each offer greater detail on specific programs and services, the administrative structure of the key programs, general service delivery, and important policies affecting each program and its client. First, Alabama's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), the Family Assistance Program, is described, including Alabama's work-related component for TANF recipients, followed by a summary of the overall workforce development system. Next, the report covers Alabama's system for providing child care for both Family Assistance and non-welfare families. Finally, the child welfare system is described, particularly the interaction between child welfare and the welfare system. Key changes in Alabama's programs and delivery systems are summarized. (Contains 12 endnotes.) (SM)