GUIDE TO INTERNET RESOURCES

A Mix of Progressive and Mainstream Information Sources

Prepared by Mimi Abramovitz with considerable input from Kathleen Panndhorst, Cathy Kaufmann, Barbara Kasper, Pam Linden, and Lara Edwards for distribution at the SWAA 2002 Teach-Ins on the Politics of Welfare.

In light of the fact that funding for TANF expires in September 2002, SWAA has launched a national Teach-In Campaign targeted to ending poverty not welfare. The series of teachins replaces the SWAA national conference for 2002. Since the Internet has become a powerful source of information and a useful organizing tool, SWAA compiled but has not
screened, this list of web sites.

I. GRASS ROOTS GROUPS

Low Income Networking and Communications Project (LincProject) http://www.lincproject.org

Contains database of resources, a Directory of grass roots organizations, and links to important TANF reauthorization information. Offers technical assistance to help low-income groups  access and use  internet technology  for organizing purposes.  A project of the Welfare Law Center

Growl: Grass Roots Organizing For Welfare Leadership http://www.ctwo.org/growl/index.html
A national movement of welfare rights and economic justice organizations that challenges the dominant framework around welfare reform from a grassroots perspective.

Kensington Welfare Rights Union www.KWRU.org and www.Universityofthepoor.org
The educational arm of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign

Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)  http://www.acorn.org/community/

Advocates for local involvement and control over issues affecting communities

Center for Community Change http://www.communitychange.org
Helps local groups run by low-income people to organize themselves and their communities, build affordable housing, and develop successful issue  

National Campaign For Jobs And Income Support www.nationalcampaign.org

National Campaign a multi-racial, multi-class constituency-based organization committed to increasing engagement of disenfranchised communities in public life and action. Web site includes publications on welfare as well as new of various action campaigns.

Jobs with Justice http://www.jwj.org
A national campaign for workers’ rights; local chapters include coalitions of religious, labor, and community organizations active throughout the country.

II. Information, Education, Advocacy

Alliance for Justice http://www.afj.org

National association of child welfare, environment, civil rights, mental health, child and consumer advocacy organizations.  Organizations work to advance public interest and community ability to influence policy.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) http://www.aclu.org
Works for every man, woman, and child to ensure everyone’s rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Contains information on the legal rights of welfare recipients and information on pending law suits against unconstitutional aspects of the 1996 Welfare Reform Law.

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) http://www.aflcio.org
Main federation of unions. Conducts organizing, research, education, and advocacy on labor issues. Mission is to improve the lives of working families.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) http://www.afscme.org/afscme/pol-leg/welftc.htm

Union of state and local public employees. Web site includes resources on welfare reform, links to federal and state information.

American Public Human Services Association http://www.aphsa.org

Mission is to develop, promote, and implement public human services policies that improve the health and well-being of families, children, and adults.

Association For Community Organization And Social Administration (ACOSA) http://www.acosa.org

A membership organization for community organizers, planners, activists, administrators, policy practice specialists, students, and professors from a variety of disciplines and professional fields

Call to Renewal http://www.calltorenewal.com

A network of churches and faith-based organizations, has launched a national Campaign to Overcome Poverty

Center For Law And Social Policy (CLASP) www.clasp.org
Conduct research and policy analysis on issues affecting low-income families.

Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law (Welfare Law Center) http://www.welfarelaw.org

A national legal and policy organization that focuses on means-tested cash public assistance programs. Provides representation for poor people in litigation and before administrative and legislative bodies..

Center on Urban Poverty and Social Change http://www.povertycenter.cwru.edu
National and local clearinghouse on census information, statistics and welfare programs.

Children’s Defense Fund http://www.childrensdefense.org/
Provides research, advocacy, public education, monitoring of federal agencies, assistance to state and local groups, and community organizing on a wide range of issues that affect children and youth.

Coalition Of Human Needs www.chn.org

The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations, including NASW, working together to promote public policies that address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations.

Corpwatch www.corpwatch.org
Counters corporate-led globalization through education and activism. We work to foster democratic control over corporations by building grassroots globalization--a diverse movement for human rights, labor rights and environmental justice. web site includes news, research and action alerts.

Electronic Policy Network http://epn.org

Web site provides access to a variety of liberal policy institutes, foundations, journals, and resources on welfare Project of The American Prospect.

Feminist Activist Resources On TheWeb http://www.igc.apc.org/women/feminist.html

Food Research and Action Cente http://www.frac.org

Seeks to enhance public awareness of the problems of hunger and poverty and provides assistance to groups working on these issues.

HandsNet http:www.handsnet.org

National, non-profit that promotes information sharing and advocacy among individuals working on a broad range of public interest issues.

If Not Now http://www.ifnotnow.com/intro.shtml

Brings advocacy groups together in one web site to follows issues.

Inequality.Org http://www.inequality.org

A non-profit organization that is a network of journalists, writers, and researchers trying to look beyond conventional economics and its notions of prosperity and progress.

Institute for Global Change  
Actively promotes changes toward a healthy society, one which is founded on principals of social justice. Offers progressive individuals and groups a place on the internet to learn, meet, and organize. Contains links to PeaceNet, WomensNet, LaborNet, EcoNet, and AntiracismNet.

International Gay And Lesbian Human Rights Campaign http://www.iglhrc.org.

Seeks to protect and advance the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. Web site include publications and action alerts.

National Council of Churches  www.ncccusa.org

Has made TANF reauthorization a top priority.

NOW Legal Defense And Education Fund(NLDEF) www.nowldef.org

Uses the power of the law to define and defend women’s rights. Web site includes reports and actions related to  welfare and poverty, women and violence, immigrant rights ,education, child care the workplace among others

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) http://www.naacp.org/

Works to achieve equal rights through the democratic process and to eliminate racial prejudice by removing discrimination in housing, employment, voting, education, the courts, transportation, recreation, and business..

National Coalition for the Homeless http://www.nationalhomeless.org

Provides information and education to people and organizations working with the homeless and promotes housing for low-income families. Contains Directory of National, Statewide, and Local Homeless Advocacy Coalitions and Organizations.

National Council of La Raza http://www.nclr.org

National umbrella organization working for civil rights and economic opportunities for Latinos.

National Jobs for All Coalition http://www.njfac.org

Dedicated to providing jobs with sufficient pay for all who want them and to demonstrating the linkages between unemployment and other problems facing the nation, such as women’s rights, the environment, and economic justice.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty http://www.nlchp.org

Advocates to protect rights of homeless people and to implement solutions to end homelessness through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education.

National Organization of Women (NOW) http://www.now.org

Works to end discrimination and gender inequality in all facets of life and to increase the number of women elected to political office. Open to all who support gender equality.

National Rainbow Coalition

Encourages the development of a progressive political leadership dedicated to economic justice, peace, and human rights.

National Urban League http://www.nul.org

Works for racial equality for African-Americans and other minorities in all phases of life. Fights institutional racism and provides direct service to minorities in the areas of employment, housing, education, social welfare, health, law, consumer rights, and community and minority business development.

National Welfare Monitoring & Advocacy Partnership (NWMAP) http://www.nwmap.org

Collaboration of organizers, advocates, service providers, and researchers concerned with the well-being of low income people. Activities include: monitoring, advocacy, and organizing.

Public Citizen www.citizen.org

Founded by Ralph Nader fights for safer drugs and medical devices, cleaner and safer energy sources, a cleaner environment, fair trade, and a more open and democratic government.

 Public Interest Clearinghouse http://www.pic.org

Supports organizations that make our legal system more accessible  and responsible to people who are traditionally excluded (i.e., people of color, women, poor people).

Protest.Net www.protest.net

A community of activists  working together to create their own media which takes stand against the established media.

State Action Organization/Center for Policy Alternatives http://www.stateaction.org., http://www.cfpa.org

Contains research and directory of over 800 progressive organizations. Compiles reports on welfare, affirmative action, domestic violence, family leave, crime,  education, TANF funds, and heath-care for states. Disseminates information on policy and leadership initiatives.

Welfare Information Network (WIN) www.welfareinfo.org

Extensive clearinghouse for information, policy analysis, and technical assistance on welfare reform.

WelfareWatch http://www.welfarewatch.org/

Provides data for journalists and policy makers seeking to understand how the welfare law is being implemented around the country. Tracks the effects and outcomes of welfare

Wider Opportunity for Women http://www.wowonline.org

Works nationally and locally to achieve economic independence and equality of opportunity for women and girls. Provides organizing, skills training, and technical assistance for women workers.

Women’s Committee of 100 (WC100) www.welfare2002.org

Feminists supporting progressive welfare policy including a caregivers allowance.

III.RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS.

Applied Research Center www.arc.org

The Applied Research Center is a public policy, educational and research institute whose work emphasizes issues of race and social change. Publishes A magazine called Color Lines (selected article available on-line)

Council on Economic Priorities (CEP) www.cepnyc.org

A public service research organization, dedicated to the accurate and impartial analysis of the social and environmental records of corporations.

Center On Budget And Policy Priorities www.cbpp.org

A nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis  on a wide range of government policies and programs with an emphasis on those affecting low and moderate income people.

Center on Hunger and Poverty http://www.centeronhunger.org

Conducts applied research and policy analysis, disseminates analytical information on poverty and hunger, and carriers out public education initiatives

Child Trends http://www.childtrends.org

Non-profit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to studying child, youth, and families through research, data collection, and data analysis. Major research areas include: the effects of welfare and poverty on children, issues related to parenting, family structure, teen pregnancy, and childbearing.

Citizens For Tax Justice www.ctj.org

A nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to fair taxation at the federal, state, and local levels. Web site includes report on tax issues.

Economic Policy Institute http://epinet.org

Conducts research and promotes dialogue on economic policy issues, particularly the economics of poverty, unemployment, inflation, American industry, international competitiveness, and problems of economic adjustment as they affect people

Institute for Research on Poverty  http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp

Organizes academic research conferences and publishers papers on all aspects of poverty Publishes Focus .featuring research summaries. Free. Can be requested directly from the Institute for Research on Poverty at

Institute For Women’s Policy Research( IWPR) www.iwpr.org

Researches economic issues important to women and families, including low-wage work, poverty, welfare reform, child care, family leave, and health care. Maintains list-serve of welfare reform, WELFAREM-L

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies http://www.jointcenter.org

Through research and information dissemination, aims to improve the socioeconomic status of black Americans, increase their political and public policy influence, and facilitate coalition building across racial lines. Contains Data Bank giving fast access to current and trend data.

Joint Center for Poverty Research (Northwestern University/University of Chicago) http://www.jcpr.org

Organizes academic research conferences and publishes papers on all aspects of poverty. Focuses on the causes of poverty and the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing poverty. Housed at the Poverty, Race, and Inequality Program at ww.nwu.edu/IPR/research/repoverty.html

  Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation( MDRC) www.mdrc.org

A nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research organization.  Dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of  low-income people. Contains research on welfare reform, working poor people, communities, families and children, and education.

Mathematica Policy http://www.mathematica-mpr.com

Strives to improve public well-being by producing high-quality, objective research to support decisions abut our nations most pressing social policy problems. Contains a direct data collection and evaluations

National Center for Children in Poverty http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nccp/

Conducts research and education on children in poverty.

National Housing Institute http://www.nhi.org

A non-profit organization that examines issues causing the crisis in housing and communities. Research on housing, jobs, safety, and education. 

Pew Partnership for Civic Change http://www.pew-partnership.org

Civic research organization that identifies documents promising solutions crucial to strong communities. Disseminates information to practitioners and citizens.

Pew Research Center for the People and the Press http://www.people-press.org

Independent opinion research group sponsored by Pew Charitable Trust. Studies public attitudes toward the press and public policy issues

Political Research Associates :The Public Eye www.publiceye.org

An independent, nonprofit research center, based on progressive values, that serves as a national resource for  information on antidemocratic, authoritarian, and other oppressive movements and trends. Seeks to provide  reliable research and analysis to activists, journalists, educators, policy makers, and the public at large.

Research Forum on Children, Families, and the New Federalism http://www.researchforum.org

Encourages collaborative research and informed policy on welfare reform and child well-being. Contains a clearinghouse of an on-line database with up-to-date summaries of welfare research projects.

The Brookings Institute http://www.brook.edu/default.htm

This site has research information on the impact of the 1996 welfare law.

Urban Institute  http://newfederalism.urban.org

This site offers welfare information for each state as well as briefing papers on reauthorization

III. PROGRESSIVE RESEARCH, NEWS & REPORTS

AlterNet www.alternet.org

An alternative to the corporate conglomerates that dominate the media marketplace that offers . provocative opinions, hard facts, thorough research and a place for those ideas to be discussed.

Color Lines Magazine http://www.arc.org

Published quarterly by the Applied Research Center. A national multi-racial magazine devoted to covering the politics and creation of communities of color. Discusses issues of welfare, human

rights, urban planning, art, culture, etc

Common Dreams: News and Views for Progressives www.commondreams.org

Breaking news and links to highlights from the day's progressive press.

Dollars and Sense. www.dollarsandsense.org

Bimonthly popular economics magazine. Explains the working of the US and international economies and provides left perspectives on current economic affairs. Selected full text articles can be downloaded from this site.

Insight & Action; The Human Needs Report http://www.chn.org.

A bimonthly newsletter and legislative update published

by the Coalition on Human Needs, Updates information about pressing Congressional action, administrative  decisions, Supreme Court decisions, and major new human needs related studies

In These Times www.inthesetimes.com

Newsmagazine committed to extending political and economic democracy in the US and around the world and to opposing the dominance of transnational corporations and the tyranny of the marketplace values over human values

Monthly Review www.monthlyreview.org

Critical essays on current realities, their historical roots and the prospects for change. 

Mother Jones MoJo Wire http://www.motherjones.com

Exposes and politics from Mother Jones magazinerooted in a  commitment to social justice and  investigative reporting.

New Internationalist http://oneworld.org/ni/index4.html

 Report on issues of world poverty and inequality and the  unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless in both rich and poor nations;.

Organizing http://www.communitychange.org

Published ten times a year. Shares efforts of grassroots organizations around the country to move lowincome people into the welfare reform debate. Contains state and federal updates, resource lists, and

opinion pieces

Poverty & Race http://www.pracc.org

Contains topical articles as well as listings of recent reports and meetings. Published six times a year by the Poverty and Race Research Action Council. Available at

Poverty Research News http://www.jcpr.org

A quarterly publication of the Joint Center for Poverty Research, featuring research summaries. Free. 

Survival News masswelf@aol.com

Grassroots welfare rights newspaper published by recipients. 

The American Prospect http://www.prospect.org

Published bi-weekly. Available on-line and in hardcopy at. Publishes articles for the general reader and attempts to reframe public questions around welfare, peace, science and politics.

The Nation www.thenation.org

 Offers a progressive critique of social, economic and political question, both domestic and international. Allows you to select articles and e-mail them to others. Has good links to other alternative resources

The Progressive www.progressive.org

A journalistic voice for peace and social justice at home and abroad

Tom Paine.Com www.tompaine.com

Features the ideas, opinions, and analyses too often overlooked by the mainstream media.

Utne Reader www.utne.com

Reprints articles from over 2,000 alternative media sources .on a wide range of issues” social change, the environment, gender issues, community, society, politics, humor and more.

Update http://www.clasp.org

Lists the most recent developments in welfare issues. Published by the Center for Law and Social  Policy

Welfare News. http://www.welfarelaw.org

Tracks recent legislative developments. Published by the Center for Social Welfare Policy and Law.

Znet www.zmag.org

A political magazine of critical thinking on political, cultural, social, and economic life in the United States.

V . Government and Statistical Resources

Administration for Children and Families- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.acf.dhhs.gov

Assists state, county, and city government through funding, policy direction, and information services to provide family assistance. The federal agency that administers Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Resources include links to welfare, children, and families web pages.

American Public Welfare Association/Welfare News in the State http://www.apwa.org/statenew/textonly.htm

State-by-state descriptions of welfare reform initiatives.

Child Welfare League of America http://www.cwla.org

Works with state child welfare agencies to present a comprehensive interactive child welfare database: The National Data Analysis System (NDAS).

Children's Defense Fund Plans http://www.childrensdefense.org/stateplans.html

Profiles state welfare plans. 

Federal Electronic Research and Review Extraction Tool (FERRET) http://ferret.bls.census.gov/cgi-bin/ferret

Provides access to statistics from the Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation.

Federal Statistics http://www.fedstats.gov

"One stop shopping" for U.S. federal government statistics.

Green Book: Background Material and Data on Major Programs within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means (of the U.S. House of Representatives). http://www.gpo.gov

Detailed information on major federal entitlement programs.

Government Information Sharing Project -- USA Counties 1996 http://www.govinfo.kerr.orst.edu/usacostateis.html

Provides a Web interface to U.S. county-level Census data. Includes poverty data by race, age, and family composition. 

Local Government Home Page http://www.localgov.org

Links to the official home pages of many city and county governments.

Money Income in the United States (Current Pop Reports) http://www.gpo.gov

Annual summary of income data for households, families, and individuals in the United States, based  on a survey of one in 1,000 families. Issued by the Census Bureau.

National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics http://www.aspe.hhs.gov 

Aims to promote and exchange ideas for the betterment of research and statistics in the field of public welfare.

National Conference of State Legislatures/ Welfare Reform Connection http://www.ncsl.org/statefed/welfare/welfare.html

Provides information about state and federal actions and analyses of key welfare issues.

National Governor's Association/Welfare Reform http://www.nga.org/welfare/

Includes state information on welfare reform and links to state's home pages on welfare reform.

Poverty in the United States (Current Population Reports) http://www.gpo.gov

Annual summary of poverty data for households, families, and individuals in the United States, based on a survey of one in 1,000 families. Issued by the Census Bureau

U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/

Contains statistical abstracts, housing and household economic statistics, income inequality, income statistics, and poverty graphs.  Of particular interest: The Census Bureau's Poverty Web site provides poverty definitions and the most recent national and state level poverty estimates

United States General Accounting Office  http://www.gao.org 

 Provides analysis options and recommendations for Congress to make improved and effective policy. Checks the constitutionality of legislation, evaluates use of public funds and federal programs and activities.

Welfare Reform Bill of 1996: HR3734, Personal Responsibility, Work Opportunity, and  Medicaid Restructuring Act of 1996

http://www.libertynet.org/~edciv/iscvhome.html

This site offers direct and easy access to the complete text version of the Welfare bill passed in 1996.

VI. MEDIA WATCH GROUPS

FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) www.fair.org

A national media watch group offers well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship .Publishes EXTRA, a  magazine of media criticism, and produces the weekly radio program CounterSpin,

Institute for Public Accuracy  www.accuracy.org

 Seeks to broaden public discourse by gaining media access for those whose perspectives are commonly drowned out by corporate-backed think tanks and other influential institutions. 

Just Think Foundation  www.justthink.org

Stimulates  critical thinking about popular media and seeks to  equip young people with the literacy tools critical for their future.

Media Channel www.mediachannel.org

Concerned with the political, cultural and social impacts of the media, large & small.

Project Censored www.projectcensored.org

Explores and publicizes   societal censorship in the US  

The Daily Howler www.dailyhowler.com

An insightful Web-based column on media inaccuracy and arrogance

VII.  SOME VIDEOS

Poverty Outlaw,  Outriders  and  Battle for Broad
Produced by Peter Kinoy, Skylight Pictures.
To order :pkinoy@aol.com, 1-800-724-8367, or from KWRU

A Days Work, For A Days Pay

Produced by Kathy Leichter and Jonathan Skurnik, Mintleaf Productions
To order : New Day Films, www.newday.com, (888) 367-9154, orders@newday.com

Welfare Warriors

Produced by Barbara Lamonica

To order  Vision Quest Film and Production ,Inc

Phone 516-385-7459, Fax 516, 427 2090