Factors Influencing Welfare Participation Rates among Vietnamese, Other Asian Immigrants and Native-born Caucasians and African Americans from 1980-2008

Martha Vungkhanching, Ph.D.
California State University, Fresno
E-mail: marthavu@csufresno.edu

Vu P. Nguyen, M.S (Computer Engineering), M.A (Economics)
Xyratex International, Inc., Sacramento, CA
E-mail: vnguyen@xyratex.com

 Abstract

Using the 1980-2000 U.S. Census and 2006-2008 American Community Survey (ACS) data among Vietnamese, other Asians (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Indian) and native-born Caucasians and African-Americans, this article examines how education and length of time in the U.S. affect welfare participation rates. The author conducted a study that examined whether length of time in the U.S. is negatively associated with welfare participation rates among Vietnamese and Asian immigrants. The effect of education on welfare participation was assessed for all groups. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 5% Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS-USA) in the U.S. assessed in 1980, 1990, and 2000. The sample included 968,000 Caucasians and 95,000 African-Americans, and 68,000 immigrant households from Asia (11,200 Vietnamese). Additional data from the ACS 2006-2008 included 213,303 Caucasians, 19,087 African-Americans, and 33,442 immigrant households from Asia (n = 5116 Vietnamese). The study findings showed that length of time in the U.S. was significantly associated with lower welfare participation rates for Vietnamese in the 1980-2000 Censuses. Education had the most significant effect on Vietnamese and African-Americans. Implications for social work education, practice and policy are discussed.

Keywords: Vietnamese, Asian, Social welfare, refugees, native-born Caucasian and African-American, social work education

 About the Authors

Martha Vungkhanching, Ph.D. is a faculty in the Department of Social Work Education at California State University, Fresno, CA 93740-8019. Her research areas include alcohol and substance use, traumatic brain injury and family caregivers, health and well-being, international social work education, and social entrepreneurship.

Vu P. Nguyen, M.S (Computer Engineering), M.A (Economics) is a senior engineer at Xyratex International, Inc. in Sacramento, CA.