With the potential instability in the economic composition of neighborhoods, community schools, churches, and social networks are likely to become disrupted. If the incidence of a social outcome, crime for example, should increase as a result of this instability, one may inquire how much of the rise was due to welfare changes per se and how much was due to these changes combined with the social and economic circumstances of a particular neighborhood. In addition, Furstenberg argues that employment should decrease the amount of time that mothers spend with their children. The magnitude of this change will depend in large part on the substitutes that parents find for direct supervision. Research into welfare reform then should include some inquiry into the quality of childcare as well as other support services available.
Kinship systems are another area ripe for study.
These systems involve the family members who provide childcare, a place to live, food, and financial assistance to mothers in need. According to Furstenberg, the recent change in welfare will alter this complex structure. He suggests one possible result of welfare reform is that families will move, fostering the degeneration of these strong kinship systems. This process could alleviate the strain caused by this kinship dependence and improve relationships among family members. Women's human capital acquisition may be also affected.