Help Families Cope with Welfare Changes Early childhood programs and welfare agencies across the United States are finding innovative ways to provide family support and promote the well-being of young children in the context of welfare reform.
Some programs help parents prepare for and obtain jobs.
Others provide training to welfare staff in family-centered practices. Many help young children cope with the changes their parents are experiencing. Still others work to give families a greater voice and provide feedback to policymakers. Often the leadership comes from the early childhood community, but sometimes it comes from agencies implementing welfare reform or partnership efforts. All are using strategies to help parents achieve success in meeting welfare-related goals and simultaneously promote positive outcomes for their young children.