The following characteristics of jobs held by impoverished youth who applied for a job training program were examined: (1) benefits; (2) skills; (3) career ladders; and (4) unionization. Results imply that segmentation models are not fruitful as guides to labor market experiences of youth at the bottom of wage scale. Other studies were also…

The dramatic increase in poverty during the first half of the 1980s hit women and children the hardest. Regarding this fact, the following are discussed: (1) economic changes since 1960; (2) the extent of the problem; (3) reasons for the economic vulnerability of women and children; (4) curtailment of social services; and (5) probable future…

One out of five people under the age of 18 lives in families with poverty level income, making them the poorest age group in this country. Federal assistance is necessary to change the situation. Reasons why children are poor and their minimum needs for a physically and emotionally healthy upbringing are covered. (PS)

Today more than half of the women in America raising children on their own get no financial support from the fathers. The article considers the following aspects of states' roles in dealing with that problem: (1) states' powers and alternatives for action; (2) difficulties faced by states in applying those powers; and (3) suggestions for…

Without an increase in five years, minimum wage workers, 60 percent of whom are women, have experienced a sharp decline in real earnings. Over seventeen million Americans fall outside the federal provision and rely on inadequate state standards. Overtime and tipping laws are discussed. Social costs of maintaining the "working poor" outweigh…

Provides preliminary findings of an interview study of Black teenage mothers and their mothers, who likewise gave birth during adolescence. Discusses topics such as childbearing, child care provisions, education, welfare, sexual behavior, contraception, relationships with the child's father, and the increased incidence of poverty among Black…

Describes the "feminization of poverty" in industrialized nations and public policy created to solve it. Reports on a cross-national study of public income transfer policies in eight advanced industrialized countries. Contends that policy strategies can be devised to raise the incomes of mother-only families in the United States. (KH)

Described is an in-class sociology game which requires students to choose and defend a system of income distribution. Techniques for conducting the game, assessing game outcomes, and leading the postgame discussion are suggested. Experience with the game leads the author to conclude that it encourages students to think about values concerning…

For more than 15 years, the KIDS COUNT initiative, has produced data books filled with statistics reflecting the general well-being of children in each state. This Pocket Guide is designed to give state-level policymakers a better understanding of conditions faced by families in their large cities and how they compare to those in the large cities…

This case study describes the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), which was formed to explore ways to help children from its rural development program gain access to improved education. Working mainly in rural areas, BRAC focused on improved quality through improved education service delivery, management detail, and finance. While…

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study is a study of the effects of a high-quality preschool program for children born in poverty. Following 123 children randomly assigned to program or no-program control groups, the study has had little attrition on a variety of measures from age 3 to age 41. The study has found evidence of preschool program…

The overarching mission of the Child Trends organization is to improve the lives of children and families by providing research-based information to inform policies and programs affecting children's lives. This annual report details the organization's accomplishments for the year 2002. The report begins with a letter from the president and the…

This study investigated differences in patterns of governance policies, practices, and attitudes between higher and lower performing urban Ohio school districts. Public domain data included official district records, state documents, and newspaper articles. Case studies of four districts found that districts were similar on the DeRolph v. State of…

This brief presents new information on the variations in family structure or living arrangements of poor children, by age and race, and analyzes the implications for current policy decisions. Data from the 1999 NSAF indicate that about half of poor children have two highly involved parents. This is the norm for poor infants but is less likely to…

Political measures are being taken to "democratize" access to universities in Brazil. A new State university recently created after a wide consultation to the population, has taken two important measures: (i) it reserves fifty per cent of its places to poor students and ten per cent to physically handicapped ones and (ii) has abolished…