In light of the recent recession, this paper examines the effect that financial strain can have on the occurrence of domestic violence and in turn, how domestic violence impacts an individual or family's financial situation. Though being low income does not correlate directly to victimization, research shows a strong relationship between economic hardship and the risk for domestic violence. Financial status can also be affected by the type of abuse a victim suffers, economic abuse being a common tool employed by batterers. The article also addresses how social services, particularly TANF can play a part in helping survivors move towards safety and self-sufficiency. The report concludes by highlighting research which shows that victims feel that housing and financial assistance are the most helpful, over and above counseling and other non-tangible forms of help.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) released a research brief from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) entitled "Instability and Early Life Changes among Children in the Child Welfare System." This is one in a series of briefs based on data from NSCAW, a nationally representative, longitudinal survey focusing on children who come to the attention of the child welfare system through investigation by child protective services. The survey is being conducted through a contract to RTI. The brief describes the placement histories and changes in living situations of infants who come to the attention of Child Protective Services.

The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance (TA) Network is a federally funded initiative through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance.  The objective of the Welfare Peer TA Network is to facilitate the sharing of information between and among states and to establish linkages between organizations serving the needs of welfare recipients. 

The U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), with support from the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network, sponsored the Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families Workshop on January 18-19, 2001, in Tallahassee, Florida.  Participants included representatives from State Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Child Support Enforcement, local fatherhood providers, and Federal participants from the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services.  The purpose of the workshop was to promote collaboration between State TANF and OCSE agencies, and to encourage the sharing of information about initiatives to address the needs of non-custodial parents.

From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this Chartbook provides data on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides approximately 46 million people across the country with nutrition assistance and is especially relied upon during economic recessions, since after unemployment insurance, SNAP has been the most responsive Federal program to assist families. Authors provide information on the demographics of the population accessing this program, as well as information on program administration, take-up, and use.

This report was authored by Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), and includes an evaluation of the New Communities Program (NCP). The NCP is a 10-year initiative to improve the conditions in distressed neighborhoods in Chicago. Authors explore the relationship between quality-of-life indicators over time in terms of safety, housing, and the local economy. Specifically, few of the indicators were strongly correlated at the same point in time, but they may occur before or after another indicator. For example, foreclosures were found to precede crime in these neighborhoods.

This research brief was authored by Child Trends with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Authors look at how maternal emotional support affects child development using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. Results show that emotional support is important for child development as children with mothers with high support had higher social competence and school engagement. Children from more disadvantaged families who had emotional support were more likely to have low externalizing behavior, fewer depressive symptoms, and were less likely to repeat a grade. Thus, emotional support may be an important protective factor for families.

Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina have been awarded three year grants to implement user-friendly and quick-to-deliver public benefit systems. The grants, as part of the "Work Support Strategies: Streamlining Access, Strengthening Families (WSS)" initiative, are largely funded through the Ford Foundation, with additional funding from the Open Society Foundations and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, has created two interactive maps that allow users to find specific information about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participation rates. Map users can click on each State to learn about the State's participation rate and how given percentage increases in participation rates could affect the State's economy as well as total SNAP and SFSP participant numbers. The maps' homepage also links to the source of each map's data.

Broadband serves as a critical foundation for leveraging economic growth, improving education and health care, addressing energy and environmental challenges, promoting civic engagement, and expanding public safety responsiveness. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), recognizing the importance of broadband, has recently developed the National Broadband Plan to expand broadband services across America. The National Broadband Plan provides a strategy for improving connectedness across the nation that will promote economic development; enhance education, health, and public safety services; and improve responsiveness to energy, environmental, and civic engagement challenges. The Plan seeks to improve the accessibility of high speed services to those with the most need. The Plan sets a strategy that will enable more Americans to be connected at affordable prices and at high speeds. In developing this plan, the FCC recognizes that broadband can be the key to opening economic opportunities, improving health and education opportunities, expanding public safety responsiveness, addressing energy and environmental challenges, and promoting civic engagement for those with the most critical need. As such, the Plan will evolve with technological innovation, reflect new connectivity opportunities, and adjust to developing markets.

In 2010, it is estimated that there were 45.9 million adults in the United States with mental illness. Of these 45.9 million adults, 32.9 percent received mental health services. NSDUH presents the results of interviews conducted with household residents, non-institutionalized individuals, and civilians living on military bases ages 12 and older from January to December 2010. These interviews measured the frequency of mental illnesses, treatments for depression, and mental health service utilization.