Rethinking the U.S. family violence option: How trauma‐informed care can ease administrative burden in conditional cash transfer programs

Abstract

Easing administrative burden in social safety net programmes, including conditional cash transfers, has become a widely shared policy goal in many countries. This goal is particularly salient for low‐income survivors of intimate partner violence, for whom access to benefits impacts safety and financial stability. The Family Violence Option (FVO), a policy option of the U.S. cash transfer programme, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), was designed to reduce TANF compliance costs for survivors through waivers from programme requirements. Yet, very few waivers are granted each year with many U.S. states issuing none. In this article, we review literature on the FVO and make a theoretical connection between the principles of trauma‐informed care and the costs of administrative burden on the part of service users, laying the groundwork for future empirical research. Our assessment of the FVO through an administrative burden framework reveals shortcomings in policy design and implementation. Conversely, applying trauma‐informed care principles to TANF offers potential in easing burden for all recipients.