Children Quote by James T. Patterson
““Many of those who railed against family break-up assailed the rise of welfare, especially the Aid to Families of Dependent Children (AFDC) program, which mainly aided low-income divorced, separated, or single women and their children. The rolls of AFDC, like divorce and illegitimacy, rose rapidly in the 1960s, from 3.1 million recipients in 1960 to 4.4 million in 1965 to 6.1 million in 1968. Costs of the program, which was supported by both the federal and state governments, increased during the same eight years from $3.8 billion to $9.8 billion.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945‑1974, 1997
Welfare expansion and family structure changes in the 1960s increased program costs and recipient numbers dramatically.
In simple terms: Welfare grew with family changes in the 1960s.
Key Takeaway
Consider policy impacts on families and budgets.
Themes
social policy
family dynamics
economics
welfare
history
Mood
reflective
historical
critical
Type
policy
sociology
When to use this quote
- Policy analysis
- budget planning
- social services
- historical research
Key Concepts
Public finance
demographic shifts
social safety nets
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternative policies could address family stability?
- How do demographic trends influence welfare costs?
A Different Perspective
Complex causes beyond numbers affect welfare outcomes.
