The American safety net is made up of more than 80 individual programs that spend roughly $1 trillion annually. This system has done a remarkable job in terms of alleviating material hardship but has been less successful at promoting upward mobility and empowering welfare recipients to rise out of poverty.

Clarence H. Carter, the Director of the Office of Family Assistance and Acting Director of the Office of Community Services at the Department of Health and Human Services, shares his vision for a re-imagined safety net with AEI’s Matt Weidinger. They discuss how programs can grow the capacity of recipients while also leveraging the expertise and creativity of local communities and service providers.