42 U.S.C. § 601 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 42. The Public Health and Welfare § 601. Purpose

(1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives;

(2) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;

(3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies;  and

(4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.