Unemployment Insurance and Low-Educated Single Working Mothers Before and After Welfare Reform

Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a nationally representative, longitudinal survey, this study examines changing levels of Unemployment Insurance (UI) eligibility and benefit receipt among working low-educated single mothers, 1990–2005. It also examines changing participation in cash welfare and the Food Stamp Program (FSP). Relative to single childless women, there has been no increase in UI benefit receipt among single mothers entering a spell of unemployment in the postreform period, even though single mothers have increased their relative rates of UI eligibility. Because of declining cash assistance receipt, UI became a more common income support than cash assistance for this population during the period 2001–2005. Furthermore, the probability of accessing FSP for low-educated single mothers entering a spell of unemployment increased in the years 2001–2005. As a result, the proportion of this population accessing benefits from one or more of these programs remained virtually unchanged across the study period.Welfare Reform, Unemployment Insurance, Low-educated Single Mothers

Unemployment Insurance and Low-Educated Single Working Mothers Before and After Welfare Reform

Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a nationally representative, longitudinal survey, this study examines changing levels of Unemployment Insurance (UI) eligibility and benefit receipt among working low-educated single mothers, 1990–2005. It also examines changing participation in cash welfare and the Food Stamp Program (FSP). Relative to single childless women, there has been no increase in UI benefit receipt among single mothers entering a spell of unemployment in the postreform period, even though single mothers have increased their relative rates of UI eligibility. Because of declining cash assistance receipt, UI became a more common income support than cash assistance for this population during the period 2001–2005. Furthermore, the probability of accessing FSP for low-educated single mothers entering a spell of unemployment increased in the years 2001–2005. As a result, the proportion of this population accessing benefits from one or more of these programs remained virtually unchanged across the study period

The Development of an Unequal Social Safety Net: A Case Study of the Employer-based Health Insurance (Non) System

The U.S. social safety net exacerbates labor market inequalities rather than ameliorating them. This paper traces this theme within an important historical case study: the emergence of the employer-based health insurance system. Employers became the dominant and tax-preferred provider of health insurance in the United States without any federal legislative action. Understanding how this happened may inform current reform efforts. This case study highlights two important factors. The first is path dependency, discussed by Skocpol (1992) and Pierson (2000). They argue that the ambiguous divisions of power and a pluralistic governance framework favor incremental processes of social policy formation in the United States. The second factor is the divisions within the American workforce (Esping-Andersen, 1990). Divisions by race and sex have often led to disadvantaged workers being left out or underserved by U.S. social welfare policy

Are Household Food Expenditures Responsive to Entry Into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?*

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115937/1/ssqu12197.pd

Could a Mid-Level Dental Provider Increase Access to Oral Health Care in Michigan?

According to a 2000 Surgeon General’s report, the United States faces an epidemic of unmet oral health needs, the result of both the high cost of care and geographic maldistribution of providers. This article assesses the extent of this unmet health care needs in Michigan, and examines one possible solution: the introduction of a mid-level dental provider (MDP) who could provide preventive and basic restorative care, under the supervision of a Michigan dentist. MDPs in various forms currently practice in over 50 countries including Canada and the U.K. The evidence suggests that a large and rigorous pilot of mid-level dental providers should be undertaken in Michigan, to inform policymakers about the structure’s potential for improving access to oral health care for vulnerable populations in the state

U.S. Dental School Deans’ Attitudes About Mid–Level Providers

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153725/1/jddj0022033720137711tb05623x.pd

Is a mid‐level dental provider model acceptable to potential patients?

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess patient attitudes toward mid‐level dental providers, known as dental therapists (DTs), by surveying those likely to be their patients. The recent adoption of accreditation standards by the Commission on Dental Accreditation has reignited a debate surrounding the state‐by‐state legalization of DTs in the United States; while the dental profession is divided on DTs, it is important to understand how potential patients may view the DT model.MethodsA questionnaire that asks about oral health experience, and comfort with the model of a dually trained dental therapist–hygienist, based on a provided definition, was administered to 600 patients and their waiting room companions at a large urban university‐based dental clinic.ResultsForty percent of respondents indicated they would be comfortable being treated by a DT for all 7 of the procedures referenced, and over 75% were comfortable with each of 5 procedures. Having caps or crowns placed was the only treatment about which respondents were evenly divided. Factors associated with greater odds of comfort with various procedures include being uninsured and being under the age of 65. Uninsured patients were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than privately insured patients to accept a DT.ConclusionsThe introduction of mid‐level dental providers is a strategy that those lacking regular care appear on the whole to be comfortable with.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/1/cdoe12230-sup-0001-AppendixS1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/2/cdoe12230.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/3/cdoe12230_am.pd

Is a mid‐level dental provider model acceptable to potential patients?

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess patient attitudes toward mid‐level dental providers, known as dental therapists (DTs), by surveying those likely to be their patients. The recent adoption of accreditation standards by the Commission on Dental Accreditation has reignited a debate surrounding the state‐by‐state legalization of DTs in the United States; while the dental profession is divided on DTs, it is important to understand how potential patients may view the DT model.MethodsA questionnaire that asks about oral health experience, and comfort with the model of a dually trained dental therapist–hygienist, based on a provided definition, was administered to 600 patients and their waiting room companions at a large urban university‐based dental clinic.ResultsForty percent of respondents indicated they would be comfortable being treated by a DT for all 7 of the procedures referenced, and over 75% were comfortable with each of 5 procedures. Having caps or crowns placed was the only treatment about which respondents were evenly divided. Factors associated with greater odds of comfort with various procedures include being uninsured and being under the age of 65. Uninsured patients were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than privately insured patients to accept a DT.ConclusionsThe introduction of mid‐level dental providers is a strategy that those lacking regular care appear on the whole to be comfortable with.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/1/cdoe12230-sup-0001-AppendixS1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/2/cdoe12230.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134205/3/cdoe12230_am.pd