Serving State Budgets Instead of Families
A Case Study of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Spending and Human Rights in Connecticut
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21619907 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Madri Hall-Faul (0000-0002-0414-0890, PhD, assistant professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-25 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1044-3894 • E-ISSN: 1945-1350 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/10443894251331246 |
| OpenAlex | W4411648654 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 32 |
This instrumental case study examines how policy devolution shapes the social and economic rights of families through Connecticut’s implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Using interviews with administrators, advocates, and legislators as well as publicly available documents, including public hearing transcripts, the study frames TANF in Connecticut through the human rights principles of human dignity, equity and nondiscrimination, participation, transparency and accountability, and adequacy. Findings highlight that administrative decisions often prioritize state budgetary needs over the program’s intended purpose of supporting families in poverty. The study demonstrates the need for increased federal oversight to ensure equity in social welfare provision and emphasizes the need for transparent, participatory policymaking processes that respect the dignity and rights of families
Business · Human rights · Political science · Computer Science · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies
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| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |