On February 22, 2017, Elizabeth Lower-Basch presented on the webinar “How We Can Support Women and Families By Repealing the State TANF Family Caps,” which was co-sponsored by CLASP, Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice, National Diaper Bank Network, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Seventeen states deny Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits to babies born while their families are receiving TANF money. These laws are known as “family caps” and are intended to discourage families receiving cash assistance from having more children. Not only does this policy fail to support a families’ decision to have children, but research shows they do not work. Instead, family cap policies hurt families who are struggling to make ends meet by forcing them to stretch already limited TANF dollars.

The webinar covered:

• Background on why family caps were enacted
• Research showing what effect family caps have had
• Arguments for why family caps should be overturned
• Information about state coalitions that have worked to overturn family caps
• Advice on working with a coalition to overturn family caps in your state

Speakers included:

• Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Center on Law and Social Policy
• Jill E. Adams, Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice
• Anna Chu, National Women’s Law Center
• Jessica Bartholow, Western Center on Law and Policy