The research planned in this proposal will address the question of why black mother-only families and their offspring are more likely to experience long term welfare dependence. The investigator is proposing to look at the way in which internal family dynamics interact with stressors in the environment among a group that is presently being referred to as the underclass. The objective of this study has major theoretical implications, because it will address the current controversy over what social, economic, and environmental mechanisms are responsible for the persistence of welfare dependence. The investigator feels that the findings from such a study will facilitate the development of more social and clinical interventions and policy prescriptions for unmarried black mothers with children living in areas of concentrated poverty. As a prelude to preparing a full proposal, the investigator plans to engage in an intensive review of the subject area, consult with experts in the field of study, and enroll in courses in quantitative methods.
