Transitions from welfare among African-American mothers: An ecological perspective

The purpose of this research was to identify factors long-term AFDC mothers considered important in their transitions from welfare. A questionnaire gathered data on socio-demographic characteristics of former recipients and their ratings of the importance of a number of variables associated with welfare exits. In-depth interviews with 14 former welfare mothers provide qualitative data that focus on how the transition from welfare was achieved.;That psychosocial characteristics, use of informal social supports, and use of formal program supports were all associated with the transition from welfare to work lends credence to the ecological perspective that provided the conceptual framework for the study. Welfare mothers were able to leave public aid due to a variety of interacting factors relating to biological, psychological, social-structural, and cultural domains.;A number of implications for social welfare policy, practice, and research derive from the study's findings, including the need for the ecological, person-in-environment perspective in welfare-to-work program administration.;The sample for the study consisted of 34 Chicago area, African-American former welfare mothers. Questionnaire responses focus on three clusters of variables: psychosocial characteristics, informal social supports, and formal program participation.