Substance abuse and welfare reform

The Foundation's Substance Abuse Policy Research Program was designed to provide support for investigators to conduct policy research on a variety of subjects directed at helping the country reduce the harm caused by substance abuse.The 1996 federal welfare reform sought to facilitate the transition "from welfare to work" by ending the entitlement to cash assistance and requiring work in exchange for time-limited assistance. This project will address the following questions: (1) How prevalent are substance abuse and mental health problems among low-income, single mothers? What proportion of welfare clients face these barriers to employment? What proportion of individuals with problems receive treatment for them?; (2) What are the relationships among substance abuse, mental health problems, work, and welfare? How do substance abuse and mental health problems affect employment? Which specific problems, or combinatons of problems, limit welfare recipients' ability to obtain and retain jobs? Are recipients who reach time limits and who receive sanctions disproportionately likely to have "undiagnosed personal barriers" that hinder work?; and (3) Do work and welfare experiences affect substance abuse and mental health? For example, is increased employment associated with more or less drinking or drug use? How do welfare sanctions affect drinking, substance abuse, and mental health problems?

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $341,087.00

Awarded on: 6/26/1998

Time frame: 7/1/1998 - 12/31/2001

Grant Number: 34904