The nation's welfare system now requires work in exchange for time-limited assistance, and there's significant reduction in food stamp benefits. The court ordered us to cease the program and go back to running the AFDC program until the Legislature passes a bill that is signed by the governor into law. In New Mexico, cases decreased from 25,930 in July 1996 to 22,678 in August 1997. They had to sign up for a work program through New Mexico's Department of Labor, and we issued contracts for job agencies to train them. Because of the Supreme Court ruling, at the time, it was unclear how welfare recipients who had found jobs would be affected.
Education is the key to self-sufficiency.
Our long-range plan includes taking the funds saved from welfare reform and moving them into an education component to attack the causes rather than the symptoms. Little research has been done on welfare mothers who had to take low-paying jobs, says Diana DelCampo, Extension family life and child development specialist. Also, welfare reform will allow more kids to know their fathers because of child support enforcement, DelCampo says. Research shows that children who have good relationships with their dads usually feel more secure than kids who don't. We have 78,000 to 80,000 parents seeking child support.