Learning from Leaders: Welfare Reform Politics and Policy in Five Midwestern States.

This book examines welfare reform, occasioned by the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which abolished Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and replaced it with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It is based on research in Ohio, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan that included interviews with political and administrative leaders in state and local governments; review of state documents, contracts, reports, press releases, and other information on welfare reform; and detailed case studies of two local sites within each state. Chapters and authors are as follows: "Learning from Midwestern Leaders (Carol S. Weissert); "Welfare Reform Meets the Devolution Revolution in Ohio" (Charles F. Adams, Miriam S. Wilson); "Kansas Carves Out a Middle Ground" (Jocelyn M. Johnston, Kara Lindaman); "Wisconsin's W-2 Program: Welfare as We Might Come To Know It?" (Thomas Kaplan); "Minnesota's Balancing Act: Boosting Work Incentives and Job Readiness While Controlling Costs" (Thomas F. Luce, Jr.); "Michigan's Welfare Reform: Generous but Tough" (Carol S. Weissert); and "Concluding Comments: Welfare Reform and Governance" (Thomas L. Gais). An "About the Authors" section concludes the document. (KC)