Until recently most welfare mothers were formerly married. There has been an increase in never married. Foster mothers are paid from 3 to 8 times what a woman is given in AFDC benefits to care for her own child. A major reason women resort to welfare is non-payment of child support by fathers. AFDC could be imagined as a subsidy of fathers, not a hand-out to mothers.
Child care is expensive and often inadequate or non-existent.
It is important for children and their mothers. Part time work options should be available along with income supplements. Domestic violence is the most prevalent violent crime in California, with law enforcement agencies receiving 500 reports every day. According to the FBI, as many as 6 million women are abused by their partners each year. A woman is battered every 15 seconds.