Non-income Effects of Welfare Receipt on Early Childhood Cognitive Scores

June 10, 2011 by Andrew Atwal

Children and Youth Services Review

New research conducted at the University of Missouri and Central Michigan University looks at the effect that federal welfare programs have on children.

The study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to find out what the non-income effects of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are on children’s early cognitive development.

Results from the research show that participation in TANF is associated negatively with cognitive development.

The study notes that among Westernized nations, the United States has the highest child poverty rate at 19 percent.

To this point, studies that have been conducted generally have concluded that receipt of welfare benefits has a marginally small negative effect on children’s educational attainment, while controlling for family income. However, those studies focused on the Aid to Families with Dependant Children (AFDC) program and not the TANF program.

This new study focuses on the early childhood period that has been shown to be when the home environment is at its greatest level of importance.

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