Welfare reform has been a key political theme in national policy in recent years, making the headlines day after day as politicians and legislators have argued heatedly about the costs of public social welfare programs, the characteristics of the people who use the programs, and the effectiveness of efforts to assist poor and working people.

This up-to-date volume begins by discussing the roots and nature of this debate. It then presents a chronology of key events in the history of U.S. social welfare programs; biographical sketches of key participants in the debate; facts and statistics about welfare programs; documents and reports; a summary of relevant litigation issues; lists of print and nonprint resources; a directory of organizations; a glossary; and an index.

Readers of all kinds, from students to senators, will find Welfare Reform an invaluable resource for research on one of the most contentious issues in contemporary society.