Running Head: The Impact of Social Policies and Family

The Impact of Social Policies and Family SOC 210-11H Heather Harris November 6, 2012

The Impact of Social Policies and Family The traditional family has changed in its structure and definition, so too has the social policies in the state and federal government. In the past thirty year the family that was once mainly comprised of a heterosexual married couple and defined as the man as the primary breadwinner and the wife the primary caregiver of the children. In todays society that is no longer the picture. Families are comprised of a number of different relationships and varied arrangements. In 2011 there are 34.3 million families with children and 58.1 million where both parents are working (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012). The cost of childcare is continuously rising. The cost of childcare in New York for an infant is approximately $10,400 a year. That

number put New York as one of the top ten least affordable childcare states in the country (Child Care Aware of America, 2012). In the US there is still a driving force to keep mothers in the work force, and little support to aid families in providing care for their children. Issues such as parental leave and the support to families provided by employers remains important factors in the success for families in providing childcare. In a recent report published there is are more than one hundred and seventy eight countries which offer paid leave for new mothers, and fifty nations that offer parental leave however the United States is an exemption to this list. Attempts have been made to enact paid family leave have failed in opposition of employer cost. In 1993 the United States created the Family Medical Leave Act that provided individuals up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave for the care of a new child or sick family member. It is estimated that only ten percent of private sector employees are eligible for this program. The problems associated with the program include exclusion to individuals who work for employers with less than 50 employees and individuals who are unable to afford unpaid leave. California and New Jersey are the only two states that have adopted paid leave programs which are financed through employee payroll deductions.

The Impact of Social Policies and Family There is a recent proposal to the Obama administration with a proposed budget of twenty three million dollars to aide additional states in adopting paid leave programs. Californias program is financed through a one percent deduction in wages which equates to an average of four hundred and eighty eight dollars a week. In California the percentage of men who have taken leave has

increased from 2004 to twenty six percent (Crary, 2011). Another benefit that was created to aid families in New York was the Temporary Disability Insurance Program. This program covers individuals temporarily with partial salary while the employee is recovering from a non-work related injury or illness or pregnancy (NYS Insurance Fund, 2012). Tax credits and exemptions are available for families with children. These credits include money paid to aide in tuition and childcare expenses. The Child Tax Credit is a federal benefit to families to help offset the cost of childcare. This program was created in 1997 and covers individuals with incomes ranging from three thousand dollars to a maximum of one hundred ten thousand dollars for families. New York State has also adopted a state child care credit which allows residents to obtain credit for childcare in addition to federal credits (Tax Credit for Working Families, 2012). The Earned Income Credit is another tax credit which is available at both the federal and state level for individuals filing taxes. The credit is available for lowmoderate income individuals. This program was originated in 1975 by Congress in an effort to offset the costs of social security taxes and incentive to work. The maximum benefit for families filing joint for federal returns is five thousand seven hundred and fifty one dollars for three or more children and a maximum income of forty three thousand nine hundred ninety eight dollars (IRS, 2012). For New York State Residents the credit is subject to the same federal guidelines but is equal to thirty percent of the federal allowed credit minus any household credits that may apply (NYS Tax & Finance, 2012). Another program that was developed to aid families that are

The Impact of Social Policies and Family

struggling financially is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This program provided additional aid to states who were suffering from an increase in demand for services related to hardship and declining economy. The goal of this program was to improve families ability for self independence through job training, marriage, and education (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2010). The Federal government provides assistance to states through a program entitled the Child Care and Block Development Grant. This grant is allocated to states to aid low income families in providing childcare for children. This program does not require childcare to be provided by a licensed facility which leaves child welfare at risk. There are approximately thirty percent of children under this program currently receiving care through unlicensed providers (Child Care Aware of America, 2012). Tax credits as noted above also aid families in providing assistance in child care costs. Italy and Germany have adopted many policies that support the working family by providing longer paid leave to families and emphasis on care provided by the family. Other countries such as France have placed an emphasis on aiding families through providing additional support through subsidized childcare (Henneck, 2003). I feel that support for programs initiated in States similar to California and New Jersey for paid leave would provide much needed assistance to families in providing childcare. Despite the added cost to employers in staffing the overall effect was positive and reflected in higher productivity, profitability and overall staff morale (Crary, 2011). The struggle faced by employees within these states is a fear of job security in an unstable economy. Other struggles that families face are those who do not qualify for childcare tax credits for reasons such as inadequate earnings to file taxes and those who do not file.

The Impact of Social Policies and Family The United States faces many struggles in family life. Single family homes can face the

burden of most of these demands in providing for their families. The poorest families are eligible for welfare however these families are faced with the social stigmas of resentment and labeling that are associated with not working. The majority of the poor are uneducated and unable to obtain higher paying positions that could move them out of poverty status. By focusing support on programs that have been trialed in other states such as the temporary assistance program in California and New Jersey states would be better equipped to handle the needs of those in need of assistance in caring for their families.

The Impact of Social Policies and Family References

Child Care Aware of America. (2012, August). Parents and the high cost of child care: 2012 update. Retrieved from http://www.naccrra.org/sites/default/files/default_site_pages/2012/2012_price_report_on e_pager_aug10_2.pdf

Crary, D. (2011, February 11). Children. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41721787/ns/health-childrens_health/t/us-decadesbehind-other-countries-parental-leave-report-says/ Henneck, R. (2003, May). Family policy in the us, japan, germany, italy and france: Parental leave, child benefits/family allowances, child care, marriage/cohabitation, and divorce . Retrieved from http://www.contemporaryfamilies.org/work-family/fampolicy.html IRS. (2012). Eitc home page--its easier than ever to find out if you qualify for eitc. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC-Home-Page--Its-easier-than-ever-to-find-outif-you-qualify-for-EITC NYS Insurance Fund. (2012). About disability benefits. Retrieved from http://ww3.nysif.com/DisabilityBenefits/AboutDisabilityBenefits

New York State Department of Tax and Finance, (2012). Earned income credit new york state. Retrieved from website: http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/earned_income_credit.htm

Tax Credit for Working Families. (2012). Child tax credit. Retrieved from http://www.taxcreditsforworkingfamilies.org/child-tax-credit/

The Impact of Social Policies and Family U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2010). Tanf emergency contingency fund. Retrieved from website: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/reports/plans/pdf20100610/ACF TANF Emergency Fund June 2010.pdf

U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Employment characteristics of families summary. Retrieved from website: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/famee.nr0.htm