Rethinking the Safety Net After the Great Recession

This working seminar brought together a small group of researchers, policymakers, Congressional and HHS staff, and state and local administrators interested in issues related to 'the safety net,' with a particular focus on issues related to the TANF program. This goal of this event was to facilitate open discussion about future research and policy directions.  We examined how the safety net functioned during the recession and how programs and policies might best respond in the near term, given the high unemployment rates which are forecast. The agenda, recommended readings, and presentation slides may be found below.

This event was jointly sponsored by the National Poverty Center, which is funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center on Children and Families, Brookings Institution.  It was organized by Sheldon Danziger – National Poverty Center, Gordon Berlin - MDRC, Ron Haskins - Brookings Institution, and Donna Pavetti - Center on Budget Policy and Priorities.

Download Agenda

Download Recommended Readings Packet
 

Agenda and Recommended Readings

10 AM	Introduction and Overview Ron Haskins, Brookings Institution and Sheldon Danziger, University of Michigan
10:30 AM	The Role of the Safety Net in Alleviating Poverty During the Great Recession Moderator:  Sheldon Danziger Introduction Ron Haskins and Donna Pavetti, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Download Presentation by Ron Haskins Download Presentation by LaDonna Pavetti What lessons can be learned from the ARRA programs and policies? Don Winstead, Winstead Consulting and Jodie Levin-Epstein, CLASP Download Presentation by Don Winstead What can we learn from ARRA that we should carry into the future? Linda Martin, State of South Carolina and Christopher O'Leary, W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research Download Presentation by Christopher O'Leary Recommended Readings Rethinking Welfare in the Great Recession:  Issues in the Reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families TANF Responded Unevenly to Increased Need during Downturn Despite Deep Recession and High Unemployment, Government Efforts - Including the Recovery Act - Prevented Poverty from Rising in 2009, New Census Data Show
12 PM	Lunch (provided)
12:30 PM	Assessing Our Investment:  TANF Funding, Spending and Accomplishments in Good Times and Bad Moderator: Gordon Berlin, MDRC Spread too thin? Rethinking the Breadth and Scope of the TANF Block Grant Donna Pavetti and Robert Doar, City of New York Download Presentation by LaDonna Pavetti Improving TANF's Ability to Respond to the Recession: Redesigning the Contingency Fund Elizabeth Lower-Basch, CLASP and Andy Bush, Exemplar Human Service, LLC. Recommended Readings Guide to Use of TANF Funds United States TANF Spending Factsheet
2 PM	Maintaining a Focus on Work When Unemployment is High Moderator: Donald Oellerich, ASPE Job Opportunities for Less-Educated Workers Harry Holzer, Georgetown University Download Presentation by Harry Holzer How can state programs provide employment Jennifer Hrycyna, State of Illinois and Michael Hayes, State of Texas Download Presentation by Michael Hayes Recommended Readings Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Implications of Recent Legislative and Economic Changes for State Programs and Work Participation Rates NCP Choices: Finding Work, Staying Employed, and Paying Child Support Put Illinois to Work Evaluation: An Early Look The Poverty Puzzle
3:30 PM	Wrap-Up Moderator: Ron Haskins Isabel Sawhill, Brookings Institution and Eloise Anderson, State of Wisconsin

Additional Readings

Creating Subsidized Employment Opportunities for Low-Income Parents:  The Legacy of the TANF Emergency Fund

Transitional Jobs:  Background, Program Models, and Evaluation Evidence

Safety Net Effective at Fighting Poverty but Has Weakened for the Very Poorest

Are Working Wives the New Social Safety Net?