The Role of Drug Testing Within Welfare Reform

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The Statement of Need explains the background of the welfare reforms that began in 1996. These reforms were implemented in order to shift the focus of the welfare system towards preparing welfare recipients for employment. This section also gives an example of the nature of the legislation that states are passing in recent years that include provisions that regulate drug screening as a condition for welfare assistance. The opinion of one expert on the accountability of government with regards to welfare is also highlighted adding credibility to the overall argument. The goal of this portion of the essay is to help the reader understand the importance of why members of congress should rethink the significance and current progress of the 1996 welfare reforms.
The next section of the essay includes a more detailed overview of the actual research paper. The Project Description includes a summary of the types of sources that will inform the research. This section focuses on the 3 main sources that all agree that drug testing is an important component of welfare reform. The National Household Survey for Drug Abuse is mentioned as a main source for the studies that were chosen for the research paper. A working thesis that implicates the most relevant argument based off of the initial research accompanied by the mood of the paper gives an overall impression of what is to be expected from the final outcome of the study.
The last portion is the Benefits of Project. This section is important because it connects all of the other sections to the purpose of why this research must be conducted. A reiteration of the target audience being members of congress is included and expanded upon. The Benefit of Project elaborates on why...

... middle of paper ...

...rming policy makers on the best way to write legislation on welfare reform.

Works Cited

Corman, Hope, et al. "Effects of welfare reform on illicit drug use of adult women." Economic
Inquiry 51.1 (2013): 653-674. Web. 9. Apr. 2014.
Grovum, Jake. “States Still Pushing Drug Testing for Welfare.” Stateline: The Daily News
Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Pew Charitable Trusts., 6. Mar. 2014. Web. 9.
Apr. 2014.
Metsch, Lisa R., and Harold A. Pollack. “Welfare Reform and Substance Abuse.” Milbank
Quarterly 83.1 (2005): 65-99. Web. 9. Apr. 2014.
National Conference of State Legislatures. Drug Testing and Public Assistance. NCSL, 27
March 2014. Web. 9. Apr. 2014.
Pollack, Harold A., et al. "Drug Testing Welfare Recipients—False Positives, False Negatives,
Unanticipated Opportunities." Women's Health Issues 12.1 (2002): 23-31. Web. 9. Apr.
2014.

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