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I would use more carrot and less stick. But the main thing I would do is emphasize personal responsibility in an equal way for both parents. That means getting serious about both parents being equally responsible and accountable for the kids they co-create.

I would set up programs which reward States for the number of people, especially parents, who complete job training and education milestones. For example bonuses to states which have higher rates of high school graduation. Bonuses to states which have low unemployement rates, bonuses to states who move more people off of welfare including dependent children. Bonuses to State which have reduced both OOW births and abortion. (Right now States are praised for reducing OOW births only).

For example if a single parent moves gets a job and is contributing to the support and care of the child, that's great. But if he/she still can't make ends meet alone, then we need to make up the shortfall of the missing parent States which have higher numbers of TWO parents contributing to the support and care of their children would also get a bonus.

I'd provide more job training and education and even job placement help to parents who agree to support their kids. One program that is being proposed is the State (or Feds I'm not sure) paying 1/2 of the salary for the first year to employers who hire welfare recipients. This sounds like a good plan. I'd extend it to people who's kids are receiving welfare if the parent agrees to pay child support (the amount would have to be figured out). Basically try to set up programs that would give priority in jobs to those who are actively supporting their kids over deadbeats even if the deadbeat is more qualified. The government paying for 1/2 the salary for the first year plus skill training would be a big carrot for both parents and employers to reward responsible behavior. Provide perks like education, job skill training and even job placement to parents who have a proven track record of supporting their offspring. The government could also offer heftier tax credits to parents supporting their kids in the same why we provide mortgage credits to promote home ownership.

I would create programs in schools aimed at letting people know what the welfare and child support rules are and basic fianancial management, what it takes to support and raise a child in TIME and MONEY and other resources. And I would make sure the boys KNOW up front that they are not going to get off scot free if they co-create a child. We need to pound in the 50/50 responsibility theme. Right now, we are busy educating our young women to accept their second class stutus based on pro-creative status. This is counterproductive to creating good responsible citizens. If you tell someone right off the bat they are second class citizens who will be treated unfairly as a matter of public policy, they have no incentive to be good responsible citizens. "Equal justice for all" is a hollow concept for them. A person who has no vested interest in a system they see as inherently unfair from the get go is more likely to abuse the system. It's called passive-aggressive.

Lastly, I would do a major PR campaign letting people know that welfare to children (including subsidizing child care facilities so that parents can work) is subsidizing the defaulted obligations of BOTH parents, not just one. Time is a resource just like money. If you are neither paying for your kids nor taking hands on care of them, you are in default of your parental obligations.

Taxpayers have a right to know exactly and truthfully who's obligations they are subsidzing with welfare dollars. We need change the rhetoric about "single mothers" and "deadbeat dads" and instead spend a lot more time talking about PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS to kids created in a fair and equal way.