Introduction
Governments always establish policies to relieve the suffering of some vulnerable social groups. One such policy is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which helps parents provide for their children when they cannot, forcing them to get employment while receiving financial aid. However, this help remains ineligible for women with drug felony convictions as TANF believes they are vulnerable and low-skilled individuals who could not find work to improve their lives regardless of assistance policies.
Discussion
In fact, TANF denies addicted people their basic needs. The only reason for this highly unfair treatment is that the agency does not believe in these individuals’ successful transition into society and willingness to provide for their families. TANF expects recipients to find a job in five years, while people with such criminal history rarely qualify for a job. However, it is unfair as the agency should have offered full employment, quality education, and drug treatment for these individuals (CrashCourse). Thus, TANF denies women with recent drug felony convictions help since it believes in their failure.
The consequences of such an attitude toward women with recent drug felony convictions might be perpetuated addiction, mental health disorders, and an increased inequality gap between the marginalized and prioritized populations. It is assumed that women without financial support from anybody, including the government, desperately find the means to survive. However, such worthless attempts result in illegal drug activity and worse drug dependency problems. Consequently, they cannot receive treatment services due to their unaffordable prices (Wormer and Davis 509). These people frequently experience stress, depression, and social isolation, which undermines their efforts to transition into the community (DPA voices). As a result, populations might be unable to feed themselves, increasing their dependency on surrounding people. Hence, this practice does not promote a humanistic approach to resolving essential social issues since it creates devastating consequences for women.
Conclusion
To conclude, governmental assistance problems should not discriminate against people for their addiction and unhealthy habits. Instead, they should offer treatment programs and employ these individuals. In order to help resolve drug dependence in the US, the states should pass the bill against the TANF’s hostile attitude toward women with drug convictions due to their inability to return to a healthy life and give up the temptation.
Works Cited
“The War on Drugs: Crash Course Black American History #42.” YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, Web.
“Virtual Briefing: How the Lifetime SNAP/TANF Drug Conviction Ban Continues to Harm Families.” YouTube, uploaded by DPA voices, Web.
Wormer, Katherine and Diane Rae Davis. “Chapter 13: Public Policy.” Addiction Treatment: a Strengths Perspective, Cengage Learning, 2016.