The Cost of Family Fragmentation

Further reporting on the cost of family fragmentation. 

Maine had a 27% increase in TANF expenditures over the last five years, Maine households had a 224% increase in annual SNAP costs since 2007, and the State saw a 19% increase in food costs for WIC from 2007-2011.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Maine is $589,980,725.41.

Maryland’s TANF expenditures increased by 7%, Maryland households had a shocking 290% increase in annual SNAP costs, and the State saw a 52% increase in food costs for WIC.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Maryland is $1,569,632,746.36.

Massachusetts had a 8% increase in TANF expenditures over the last five years, households in the State had a 274% increase in annual SNAP costs since 2007, and the State saw only a 7% increase in food costs for WIC from 2007-2011. The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Massachusetts is $2,104,561,099.89.

Michigan saw a 12% increase in TANF expenditures over the last five years, Michigan households had a 230% increase in annual SNAP costs since 2007, and the State saw a 27% increase in food costs for WIC from 2007-2011.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Michigan is $1,506,859,801.91.

Minnesota’s TANF expenditures decreased by 2%, but households had a surprising 270% increase in annual SNAP costs, and the State saw a 24% increase in food costs for WIC.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Minnesota is $1,260,685,577.43

Mississippi had a 44% increase in TANF expenditures, Mississippi households had a 175% increase in annual SNAP costs, and a 23% increase in food costs for WIC.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Mississippi is $1,252,977,511.52.

Missouri had only a 3% increase in TANF expenditures over the last five years, households had a 193% increase in annual SNAP costs since 2007, and the State saw a 35% increase in food costs for WIC from 2007-2011.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Missouri is $2,132,172,260.70.

Montana had a 13% increase in TANF expenditures, Montana households had a 211% increase in annual SNAP costs, and a 21% increase in food costs from WIC.  The conservative five year cost of family fragmentation of TANF, SNAP and WIC for Montana is $277,235,744.22.

To read the entire article examining the costs of family fragmentation for each state, see the forthcoming issue of Regent Law Review, and the article by Rachel K. Toberty and Lynne Marie Kohm, entitled, “A 50 State Survey of the Costs of Family Fragmentation.” To subscribe to Regent Law Review see http://www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/student_life/studentorgs/lawreview/subscriptions.cfm.