The recent economic downturn has been especially devastating in America's rural areas, where low wages, sporadic seasonal work, and manufacturing industries moving their plants out of the U.S. are widespread, and grocery stores and health care services may be miles away. Many families eligible for government programs are unaware of them. The transition from welfare to work is made more difficult by not only the fewer employment opportunities, and the limited access to transportation and child care which keeps many who want to work locked in a catch-22 of unemployment.

Rural Families and Work analyzes in context the issues and policies that have the greatest influence on rural employment. An overview of relevant theories provides a central starting point for discussion of work and its relationship to family and community well-being. Data from the Rural Families Speak project (including interview transcripts from study participants) illustrate the range of problems preventing rural families from finding and maintaining adequate employment. In addition, the book evaluates current proposals, pinpoints future directions for research and policy, and features discussion questions to help bring work-related issues into focus. Among the topics examined in detail:

• The impact of TANF, EITC, and other aid programs.
• The challenges of child care for low-income rural mothers.
• Obstacles to employment: mental health problems and child health problems.
• The hunger-obesity paradox and other physical health issues.
• Social support and resource management among rural families.
• Food insecurity between Latino and white populations. With its in-depth framework for understanding this complex subject, Rural Families and Work is a valuable text for family relations professors and students, and a solid reference for researchers studying social policy and the economics of the family.

Autorentext

Jean W. Bauer

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Family Social Science Department, University of Minnesota. Dr. Bauer has authored more than 170 research publications, including 39 journal articles and over 65 presentations at conferences or in the community. She understands public policy processes and can help to mold the content of the proposed project into information useful for classroom use. She has supervised 19 dissertations and master's theses (7 with RFS data). Dr. Bauer was member of the beginning RFS research team and wrote the initial proposal for the NC-223 project in 1998 and chair for 2 years and was P.I. for 3 USDA National Research Initiative grants for the overall support of the research team.

Elizabeth M. Dolan

Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Family Studies, University of New Hampshire. Dr. Dolan has been a member of the RFS research team for 12 years. Dr. Dolan's leadership roles include 4 years as chair of the group and 7 years on the project advisory council. She was the lead team member on the continuation proposal for the NC-1011 project. She works well with all the members of the research team and has been instrumental in many of the presentations for the RFS group in the past 6 years. She is often the coordinator of the ideas for journal articles, presentations, and positioning of the project. Dr. Dolan has authored more than 50 papers and made more than 70 presentations at conferences or in the community.

Zusammenfassung
Rural Families and Work focuses on the findings of the Rural Families Speak research study and the theoretical frameworks that are utilized to examine the context of rural low-income families' employment. This volume provides a solid foundation for understanding rural employment problems and issues. Family ecological theory is the central framework with a discussion of theories that contribute to the opportunities for the contextual research, including family economic stress theory, human capital, human capability, and some selected policy frameworks. Employment is addressed through review of policy issues, community contexts, family and social support, and available resources. Throughout the volume future research directions and applications are highlighted.

Inhalt
RURAL FAMILIES and WORK OVERVIEW.- THEORIES FOR STUDYING RURAL FAMILIES AND WORK.- RURAL DOES MATTER: UNDERSTANDING THE RURAL CONTEXT.-MAKING RURAL EMPLOYMENT WORK.-PHYSICAL HEALTH, FOOD SECURITY, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING: THE RURAL PERSPECTIVE.- INVISIBLE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT: MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT HINDER SELF-SUFFICIENCY.-THE CHALLENGE OF CHILD CARE FOR RURAL LOW-INCOME MOTHERS.- RESOURCES AS THE KEY TO RURAL EMPLOYMENT.-I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD MAKE IT SOCIAL SUPPORT IN RURAL LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.- THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT: AN INCENTIVE TO RURAL EMPLOYMENT.- APPLICATIONS FOR THE RFS FINDINGS: PROGRAMS AND FUTURE RESEARCH.- POLICY ISSUES AND APPLICATIONS: RURAL CONCERNS.- Appendix A: A BRIEF HISTORY OF RURAL FAMILIES SPEAK PROJECT.- Appendix B: RURAL FAMILIES SPEAK WORK CITED.