If/When/How envisions a world where all people have to power to determine if, when, and how to define, create, and sustain families. Parents and guardians deserve to raise children with dignity, safety, and security; robust public benefits are a vital element to support strong families. In most states, when a child is born into a family whose income meets the eligibility requirement for cash aid, the family will receive a modest increase in its monthly allowance in order to care for the child. However, in 13 states newborns are rendered ineligible for such aid due to welfare family cap policies in place. These racist, sexist, classist policies are rooted in eugenics and fail to achieve their purported aim of lowering the birth rate among Temporary Aid for Needy Family (TANF) participants. Beyond being ineffectual, these policies cause harm by shaming parents and exacerbating childhood poverty and its effects, including health problems, food insecurity, and homelessness. Reproductive justice will be realized when everyone has the resources and support they need to create, sustain, and define their families, whatever their size.

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