Citation

Jahangir T, Dahn C, Devakottai R, Livingston MD, Woods-Jaeger B. Front. Public Health 2024; 12: e1326467.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Frontiers Editorial Office)

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2024.1326467

PMID

38741914

PMCID

PMC11090040

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a risk factor for homicides and suicides. As poverty is both a predictor and a consequence of IPV, interventions that alleviate poverty-related stressors could mitigate IPV-related harms. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a monthly cash assistance program, is one such potential intervention. In the state of Georgia, the TANF diversion program, which provides a non-recurrent lump-sum payment to deter individuals from monthly TANF benefits, is an understudied component of TANF that may influence the effectiveness of state TANF programs in supporting IPV survivors.

AIM: This study quantifies and qualifies the role of Georgia's TANF diversion program in shaping IPV-related mortality.

METHODS: This study relies on a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Using data from the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System (GA-VDRS), an interrupted time series analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of TANF diversion on IPV-related homicides and suicides. Semi-structured interviews were then administered with TANF policy experts and advocates, welfare caseworkers, and benefit recipients (n = 20) to contextualize the quantitative findings.

RESULTS: The interrupted time series analysis revealed three fewer IPV-related deaths per month after implementing TANF diversion, compared to pre-diversion forecasts (coefficient = -3.003, 95%CI [-5.474, -0.532]). However, the qualitative interviews illustrated three themes regarding TANF diversion: (1) it is a "band-aid" solution to the access barriers associated with TANF, (2) it provides short-term relief to recipients making hard choices, and (3) its limitations reveal avenues for policy change.

DISCUSSION: While diversion has the potential to reduce deaths from IPV, it may be an insufficient means of mitigating the poverty-related contributors to IPV harms. Its limitations unveil the need for improved programs to better support IPV survivors.

Language: en

Keywords

*Intimate Partner Violence/statistics & numerical data/prevention & control; Adult; Female; Georgia; Homicide/statistics & numerical data; Humans; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; intimate partner violence; Male; Middle Aged; mixed-methods; policy; Poverty; Suicide/statistics & numerical data; time-series; welfare; Young Adult