Sharon B. Seiling

MATERNAL GRANDMOTHERS AS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR RURAL, LOW-INCOME MOTHERS: A unique child care arrangement

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of forty-two rural, low-income mothers who utilized their own mothers for routine child care. A life course perspective was used to explore mothers’ perceptions of their child care arrangement and the influence of the adult daughter–older mother relational context. Results focus on the benefits and weaknesses of child care provided by grandmothers and the influence of the relationship between participants and their mothers on this care arrangement. The analysis has implications for research, support programming, and public policy.

Getting Off TANF: Experiences of Rural Mothers

This 3-year study followed 16 rural mothers who left Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. A family economic functioning framework was used to identify pathways and barriers to financial self-sufficiency. At a designated point, most mothers had incomes below 130% of poverty level, inadequate to support families financially. This was found to be a result of barriers such as low levels of education, limited employment choices, and transportation problems. Those with higher incomes had access to education or training programs and reliable transportation. For many of the mothers, extended family support was critical for getting off TANF. This framework provides social workers with a tool to determine the best points of intervention to reduce barriers and enhance pathways to success.

“I Don’t Know How We Would Make It”—Social Support in Rural Low-Income Families

This chapter provides an overview of social support in sustaining rural low-income families. Social support is defined and relevant theoretical perspectives are presented. Literature is included to help in understanding how informal networks function when needs are high and resources are few, with the amount and types of support varying by context and time. The Rural Families Speak (RFS) project mothers’ narratives help demonstrate the types, strengths, and constraints of the support networks that emerged for the families. Further research needs and strategies for aiding positive employment and family well-being outcomes for rural low-income families are presented.

Housing, Equipment, and Design Research and Scholarship: A Family and Consumer Sciences Perspective

Periodic reviews of research in the housing, equipment, and design specializations within family and consumer science have occurred in the past, documenting the status of research topics, methods, and theory. This article addresses research and scholarship in the housing, equipment, and design disciplines over the past 16 years by analyzing relevant publications with a family and consumer science perspective. Articles from three journals were analyzed to determine the number, university affiliation, topic, purpose, type, data collection, data analysis, and use of theory. Results indicate a decline in the total number of articles in these journals related to housing, equipment, and design. About one third of the articles utilized theory, and these articles used three theories frequently. Scholars in housing, equipment, and design should continue to publish in family and consumer science-related journals to continue the expansion and further the depth of these disciplines within the broader field.

Having Their Say: Rural Mothers Talk about Welfare

Abstract The publics perception of persons who rely on public assistance is generally negative. The surprising element is that mothers who are themselves reliant on welfare also hold these negative attitudes. This paper explored the attitudes toward and experiences with welfare of rural low income mothers using data from the Rural Families Speak longitudinal, multi-state project. Consistent with prior research, the majority of rural mothers spoke disparagingly of those relying on “welfare.” They saw themselves in a different light because they were in need and they used “public assistance” to help their families survive. The rural mothers also spoke of incidents in which they and their family members had experienced discrimination due to their use of welfare benefits.

The effects of child support guidelines: An analysis of the evidence in court records

Court records from four Ohio counties were used to compare child support orders before and after promulgation of federally mandated guidelines in 1987. There was no significant change in probability of Court Ordered Child Support. Amount Ordered in constant dollars increased between 1985 and 1987–88. Variables influencing Court Ordered Child Support differed post-guidelines. Years Married, Attorney for Both and Attorney for Wife were significant in both years. Number of Children, Rural, and Wifes Motions were significant in 1987–88. Variables affecting amount ordered also differed after adoption of the guidelines. Wife Contested, Husbands Motions, Defendant and Plaintiff no longer were significant in 1987–88. Years Married and Payment by Father were significantly related to Amount Ordered in 1985 but not in 1987–88. Number of Children, Expenses Paid, and Number of Assets were significantly related to Amount Ordered in both years.

Resources as the Key to Rural Employment

This chapter focuses on the role of resources to promote and sustain employment for rural low-income families, whether individual resources, or public and/or private resources available in the community. The ecological model (Fig. 8.1) offers a visual representation of resources and of the selection and use of nonpersonal resources to achieve goals such as employment, satisfaction of needs, and quality of life-supporting services. Education and transportation are highlighted as facilitating resources for employment and well-being. The Rural Families Speak study narratives are used to illustrate some of the resource use by rural low-income families.

Labor Supply Decisions of Rural Low-Income Mothers

Labor force participation is crucial to the economic well-being of low-income rural families. This study identified the factors that influence two decisions that low-income rural mothers make regarding their employment: labor force entry and number of hours supplied to employment. The sample consisted of 412 rural low-income mothers who participated in a multi-state study. The logistic regression model correctly predicted 80 percent of their work participation decisions. Employed rural mothers appeared to be older, better educated, and less likely to suffer from depression compared to those not working. Additionally, they were more likely to have an employed partner, a driver’s license, child care assistance, and Earned Income Tax Credit from the previous year. The estimated labor supply function explained 33 percent of the variation in hours worked by the 208 employed rural mothers. Higher wages, availability of health insurance, and overtime benefits predicted the number of hours that these employed mothers were willing to work.