Web-Based Resources for Advocacy
on the Reauthorization of TANF

The Web sites listed below are offered in the interest of providing a wide range of views, approaches, and opinions from religious, secular, academic, nonprofit, social service and governmental entities.  They do not necessarily represent the views of the National Council of Churches or reflect its policy.  Descriptions come from the Web sites of the organizations.

American Public Human Services Association -- http://www.aphsa.org/

Seeks to develop, promote, and implement public human service policies that improve the health and well-being of families, children and adults.

Annie E. Casey Foundation - http://www.aecf.org/

Fosters public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.  Website provides data and analysis on critical issues affecting struggling families and at-risk children.  The annual KIDS COUNT data book measures child well-being on a state-by-state basis.

Applied Research Center - http://www.arc.org/

A national institute that focuses on issues of race and public policy, particularly in the areas of welfare and public education.  ARC's Welfare Advocacy and Research Project seeks to democratize the welfare debate by conducting and disseminating research that is designed and carried out in collaboration with grassroots welfare rights organizing efforts.

Bread for the World - http://www.bread.org

The nation’s largest grassroots advocacy network on domestic and international hunger issues, conducting nonpartisan research and education on hunger and supporting legislation to address root causes of poverty.    The Bread website contains extensive reports on how TANF is implemented in every state.

Brookings Institution - http://www.brookings.org

An independent analyst and critic committed to publishing its findings for the information of the public, serving as a bridge between scholarship and public policy, bringing new knowledge to the attention of decision-makers and affording scholars a better insight into public policy issues.  Brookings had published many studies and books about welfare in general and TANF in particular.

Call to Renewal - http://www.calltorenewal.org/

Developed with the NCC the “Covenant to Overcome Poverty” and works to educate and motivate church people to be advocates for people living in poverty.

Center for Community Change - http://www.communitychange.org

Is committed to reducing poverty and rebuilding low-income communities by helping people develop the skills and resources they need to improve their communities as well as to change policies and institutions that adversely affect their lives.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - http://www.cbpp.org/

A nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that focuses on government policies and programs that primarily affect low and moderate income people.

Center for Law and Social Policy - http://www.clasp.org/

CLASP is a national public policy research firm with expertise in both law and policy affecting the poor. Through education, policy research and advocacy, CLASP seeks to improve the economic conditions of low-income families with children and secure access for the poor to our civil justice system.

Center for Women Policy Studies - http://www.centerwomenpolicy.org

A national multiethnic feminist policy institute, the nation's oldest, which conducts research and policy analyses and works with a national network of women state legislators on multiple women's issues, including postsecondary education as an effective welfare reform strategy.

Children’s Defense Fund - http://www.childrensdefense.org/

CDF’s trademark slogan, “Leave no Child Behind,” has become a standard by which to measure Administration and congressional initiatives.   The Act to Leave No Child Behind (introduced in Congress May 23, 2001) contains extensive proposals for the well-being of children.

Coalition on Human Needs -- http://www.chn.org

The Coalition on Human Needs has posted on its website a series of one-page papers on a variety of issues of interest to the faith community as well as to other advocates. These papers have been being distributed to TANF staffers in congressional offices. Feel free to download and use any that will help you in your advocacy. The papers can be found at: http://www.chn.org/issues/article.asp?Art=2170

Economic Policy Institute - http://www.epinet.org/

A nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy.  EPI web site contains  reports and analyses on wages, employment, and other economic Issues.

Families USA - http://www.familiesusa.org/

Works for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans through a grassroots advocacy network and is a clearinghouse for up-to-date, reliable information about the health care system.

Habitat for Humanity - http://www.habitat.org

Engaged in a long-term venture with the NCC to build decent, low-cost housing in communities in the US and abroad.

The Institute for Research on Poverty - http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/

A national, university-based center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States.  It is nonprofit and nonpartisan.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs - http://www.jewishpublicaffairs.org

Works to end poverty in the United States, including welfare reform that measures success by how many people are lifted out of poverty.

Joint Center for Poverty Research - http://www.jcpr.org/

A national, interdisciplinary academic research center that seeks to advance understanding of what it means to be poor in America.  Concentrates on causes and consequences of poverty and effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing poverty.  The November-December 2001 issue of "Poverty Research News," available on line, includes an excellent survey of all the major issues involved in TANF reauthorization.

The LINC Project - http://www.lincproject.org/

The Low Income Networking and Communications Project is the electronic crossroads where the members, leaders, and organizers of low income organizations confronting the shredding of our social safety net can connect, gather and exchange information and have their organizing efforts represented.

McAuley Institute - http://www.mcauley.org

Works with community- and faith-based organizations to build capacity and increase housing opportunities for low-income women and their families.

The National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support - http://www.nationalcampaign.org

Represents poor, working class and middle-class people and people of all colors in urban, suburban, and rural areas. to craft and implement a national campaign for jobs, income and economic justice grounded in the experiences of its constituencies.

National Conference of State Legislatures - http://www.ncsl.org/

Works to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures to ensure legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system and is a source for research on the effect of state level programs.

The National Center for Children in Poverty - http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nccp

Identifies and promotes strategies to reduce the number of young children living in poverty in the United States, and to improve the life chances of the millions of children under six who are growing up poor.

National Council of Churches - http://www.ncccusa.org

A national ecumenical organizations whose members are 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican communions.  The Council and its member communions have launched a decade-long Mobilization to Overcome Poverty.  The NCC’s website contains links to all of its member communions that have an Internet presence.

National Forum on Children, Families and the New Federalism - http://www.researchforum.org/

Facilitates development of rigorous, policy relevant research about the effects of the new federalism on poor and vulnerable populations and promotes strategies that protect and enhance the well-being of poor children and their families.

National Governor’s Association (NGA) - http://www.nga.org/

Provides a forum for Governors to exchange views and experiences, assists in solving state focused problems, provides information on state innovations and practices, and provides a bipartisan forum for Governors to establish, influence, and implement policy on national issues.

NGA Center for Best Practices - http://www.nga.org/center/1,1188,C_FAQ,00.html

Helps Governors and key policy staff develop and implement innovative solutions to governance and policy challenges facing them in their states.

National Jobs for All Coalition - http://www.njfac.org

Unites a diverse group of individuals and organizations through its plan for reducing poverty, Five Years closer to Economic Justice, centered on a move toward full employment.

Network:  A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - http://www.networklobby.org/

Network has issued several reports based on statistical and anecdotal information about people in poverty since enactment of the 1996 welfare reform law, with recommendations for welfare reform reauthorization.

State Policy Documentation Project - http://www.spdp.org/

A joint project of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) that tracks policy choices on TANF cash assistance programs and Medicaid in the states and DC.

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee - http://www.uusc.org/

Grounded in Unitarian Universalist principles that affirm the worth, dignity and human rights of every person, and the interdependence of all life, UUSC is a voluntary, non-sectarian organization working to advance justice throughout the world.  Its 5-year Welfare and Human Rights Monitoring Project produced in spring of 2001 its second report, America’s Forgotten Families:  Voices of Welfare Reform.

US Census Bureau -- Housing and Household Economic Statistics - http://www.census.gov/

Provides access to a database of statistics on housing, health, income, and poverty from the Current Population Survey. Part of the U.S. Census Bureau's searchable online database.

US Department of Labor -- Welfare to Work Information - http://www.doleta.gov/

Contains a wide range of information pertaining to the Department of Labor's Welfare to Work initiative, including fact sheets on Welfare to Work grants, regulations, timelines, stories of successful programs,  technical assistance materials.

The Welfare Information Network - http://www.welfareinfo.org/

The Welfare Information Network is a clearinghouse for information, policy analysis and technical assistance on welfare reform. The WIN site includes summaries of federal welfare legislation, a catalog of and links to other welfare related web sites,  calendar of welfare related events, and links to over 2,700 organizations and publications pages with program information, policy analysis, legislative information, and "best practices."

The Welfare Law Center - http://www.welfarelaw.org/

Works with and on the behalf of poor people to ensure that adequate income support -- public funding provided on the basis of need -- is available whenever and to the extent necessary to meet basic needs and foster healthy human and family development.

Welfare and Families - http://www.epn.org/ideacentral

Carries  articles, reports, and other information about the national debate on welfare reform and family issues.

Welfare to Work Partnership - http://www.welfaretowork.org/

A national, nonpartisan, nonprofit effort of the business community to help move people on public assistance to jobs in the private sector.

Western Region Anti-Hunger Consortium - http://www.wrahc.org/

Focuses on issues related to the food stamp program, providing action alerts, news coverage, a community forum, and links to the US Congress and other groups interested in hunger issues.  Primary attention is given to the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.