Welfare Reform and Women's Health Opportunities to Advance the Public Response to the Health Needs of Women on Welfare through Collaboration

In August 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (P.L. 104-193; PROWRA) was signed into law ending a 60-year federal entitlement guaranteeing families a basic level of assistance during periods of economic hardship. Evaluations and policy studies examining the impact of welfare reform, as implemented through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, thus far have focused almost exclusively on economic and child health outcomes. The impact of welfare reform on women's health, a potentially important factor in achieving full economic selfsufficiency, has been a minor consideration in research studies with the exception of access to health insurance. Several aspects of the PROWRA have the potential to impact the health and well-being of women. These issues highlight areas of need and opportunity for state MCH Programs, offices on women's health, and welfare agencies to initiative new and/or strengthen current efforts on behalf of women and their families.