Effecting Changes in the Social Programs of the United States - Assignment Example

The recipient of this report is the various organizations, both governmental and NGOs, dealing with welfare funding.
Problem
Identifying the problem was an easy task. According to government statistics, the TANF program has 31% of white families, 33% black, and 29% Hispanic. It is important to note that the program aims to provide funds to needy families with a five-year limit on financial assistance. Total welfare spending for the year ending 2010 reached an astounding $900 billion. The problem arises because, even with the large amounts spent on assisting poor families, more families keep increasing systematically.

Scope of research

To come up with a comprehensive report, I conducted conclusive research based on a set of sensitive questions;
1. How do the organizations determine that certain families require financial assistance and others do not
2. When is a family considered independent after a period of assistance
3. What family needs does the program aim to satisfy
Resource
To answer the questions, it is crucial to have access to the government archives on the target program (TANF). The public libraries with the government, though few, are a good source of information. The internet is also an important resource for this research. I will have access to the national statistics databases. Journals and newspapers detailing the aspect of social welfare will be considered a resource.

Methodology
Kearns (2000) advises the use of mixed methodology in answering research questions. Following Kearns’ advice, I will use observation and interviews to answer the questions. The interview will be inthe form of a questionnaire directed at sampled TANF and the program supervisors. Since the research is personal, I intend to make unbiased observations and take notes for further reference.

The suggested course of action will be based on unprejudiced answers to the questions of research. Corcoran (2011) lays out a clear method of identifying loopholes in social affairs based on the failures of the system used. Read More