Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Anne Hacker

Abstract

Policymakers often design public policies and programs to assist populations in improving their social status, economic standing, or overall well-being. The problem addressed in this study is the gap in understanding the perspectives of African American men related to policies and programs that provide them with financial assistance. Ingram et al.’s social construction and policy design theory provided the framework for this qualitative study, which aimed to understand the benefits and barriers African American men experienced with public programs that provided financial assistance and its impact on their financial stability. Eleven African American men, selected using purposive sampling, responded to open-ended interview questions. The data collected were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for recurring themes using an iterative process. Prominent themes that emerged included financial literacy, barriers, policy guidelines, perceptions, experiences, and benefits. The findings noted mixed experiences driven by the allocation of benefits and barriers aligned with their level of deservingness and political power. Overall, barriers such as limited awareness and access to resources outweighed the financial relief benefits. Recommendations include further research into experiences with specific programs to determine if this pattern is a common theme. Policymakers should consider revising public policies and programs related to financial assistance to include issues encountered by target populations such as African American men. Implications for positive social change include providing additional data for policymakers to consider regarding current and future public policies and programs that provide financial assistance to disadvantaged individuals.

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