ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan has several experts who can discuss how Americans have been affected by 10 years of welfare reform, which was signed into law by President Clinton on Aug. 22, 1996.

These experts conduct research at the National Poverty Center in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Becky Blank, the Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy, is a nationally known expert on the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well-being of low-income families. She can be reached at (734) 763-2258 or blank@umich.edu.

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Sandra Danziger, director of the Michigan Program on Poverty and Social Welfare Policy, is a professor in the School of Social Work. Her current research examines barriers to employment among single mothers making the transition from welfare to work.

She is available at (734) 615-4648 or sandrakd@umich.edu.

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Sheldon Danziger, the Henry J. Meyer Distinguished University Professor of Public Policy, is co-director of the National Poverty Center. His research focuses on welfare reform and on the effects of economic, demographic, and public policy changes on trends in poverty and inequality.

“Since the mid-1990s, the employment rate of single mothers with a high school degree or less has increased by about 10 to 15 percentage points, and their official poverty rate has fallen by about 8 percentage points,” he said. “However, in any month, about 30 percent of these single mothers are without jobs, and their official poverty rate remains very high.

“As is the case for other less-skilled workers, women leaving welfare for work face frequent spells of non-employment and continuing economic hardships. “

He can be reached at (734) 615-8321 or sheldond@umich.edu.

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Kristin Seefeldt, research investigator and assistant director of the NPC, has conducted analyses of long-term welfare recipients in Michigan. She found that women with persistent personal and family problems are at an increased risk of remaining on welfare for an extended period.

“Women who remain on welfare for many months are likely to need a more comprehensive set of services, including help dealing with domestic violence, remedial education and health care for themselves and their children,” she said. She can be contacted at (734) 615-3802 or kseef@umich.edu.

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