The Family Violence Option: An Early Assessment

Abstract

Research studies documenting the large percentages of women on welfare who are current domestic violence victims prompted Congress to add the Family Violence Option (FVO) to the 1996 welfare reform legislation. The FVO allows the states to exempt violence victims temporarily from federal work requirements while they receive services to eliminate the violence in their lives. Interviews with state representatives and domestic violence advocates revealed that most states have adopted the FVO, but implementation varies widely. These variations are described along with pilot projects. Guidelines for continued implementation, monitoring, and tracking activities are offered.