The Experiences of Hispanic Mothers of Young Children in Accessing Cross-sector Federal Financial Assistance Programs to Improve Family Self-sufficiency and Well-being

This study explored the experiences of Hispanic families accessing subsidized early care and education programs, and their access to other federal financial assistance programs, designed to increase family self-sufficiency and well-being. Federal programs include subsidized early care and education, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Housing and Urban Development assistance programs. Understanding Hispanic families' perspective of barriers faced when accessing federal financial assistance programs is vital for policy changes to improve accessibility for these underserved families. The purpose of this study was to explore the voices of Hispanic mothers about their experiences accessing cross-sector federal financial assistance programs to gain an understanding about how these programs improve their self-sufficiency and family well-being. Qualitative methods were used by conducting 10 interviews with Hispanic mothers of young children under 5. Interviews were conducted in the preferred language of the mothers (English or Spanish) by trained staff. Interviews were transcribed and coded by four trained coders to achieve reliability. Data from the interviews were analyzed using grounded theory to code responses and develop meaning about mothers' experiences. The findings illustrate the interplay between different types of cross-sector federal financial assistance programs that support families and how they promote the education and health of young Hispanic children and their families. The findings can be used to guide policy decision-making and future research.