discussion

response.docx

1. Program: WIC- Women, Infants, & Child (WIC) program (nwica.org)

a. WIC is a non-profit organization that helps transform diets and health of children, women who are pregnant and post-partum women. This program was created in 1972, as a supplemental food program to decrease malnutrition in poverty-stricken mothers and children (nwica, 2018). Two years after the first location opened in Kentucky and later that year WIC was a program in 45 states (nwica,2018). It was not until 1975 when the program became permanent by legislation P.L. 94105 (nwica, 2018). As the years passed eligibility broaden and new elements were introduced to the program (nwica,2018).

b. The population this program addresses is women, children age 5 or younger, and infants at high nutritional risk.

c. Requirements include:

i. Low-income pregnant or post-partum women, infants, and children of the age of 5 or younger. Low-income is at or below 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income guidelines, or be part of TANF, SNAP, or Medicaid (nwica, 2018)

ii. If you are at nutritional risk for example, you are anemic, underweight, smoking, maternal age, pregnancy complications, or diet-based risk (nwica, 2018).

Pros (nwica, 2018)	Cons
Mothers with medical issues do not have to worry about nutrition restrictions since WIC helps organize a diet plan.	Many pregnant women or mothers are not educated in nutritional diet plans, which means those who are not helped by WIC will have diets that are not healthy.
Applicants can apply even if they are being helped by other government assistance programs.	Families might become dependent on WIC so when their children are older than 5, they might find themselves eds in a financial strain since they have to buy “more groceries”
Reduces premature births	Temporary assistance
Reduces fetal and infant deaths
Keeps pregnant mothers and infants healthy
Increase Immunization rates
Improved diet quality
Increase access to regular health care

2b. The poor have access to “luxury” items like TV’s and AC because families buy these conveniences years after the middle class (Shefield, 2011). This could be due to discounted prices and the loss of value of items (Shefied, 2011). As Iceland mention the meaning and experience of poverty changes according to not only the economy, but the social and cultural aspects in our society (Iceland, 2015). Now a days there is a variety of brands that vary in quality and prices which can be fitting to different incomes and budgets, this allows for families to obtaining “luxury” items for cheap. The poor can essentially afford buying these items , but they cannot keep up we the bills that come with them (Shefield, 2011). Additional bills include internet, cable, and higher electricity. The additional bills add more financial strain and these families are still struggling to get food on the table (Shefield, 2011).

2c. Owning these “luxury” items does not disqualify people from being considered as living in poverty. Being poor does not mean that you chose to be poor and “Poverty is not a lack of knowledge”, but there is a pattern expressing that the poor make poor decisions (Bregman, 2017). Therefore, most poverty-stricken families have luxury items at home and at first, they don’t see the extent of it. These items add more bills which causes more financial strains in their household not allowing them to make ends meet. They are constantly at struggle to pay bills and to get food on the table (Shefield,2011). When I think of poverty, I think of being in a cave and constantly trying to climb out of it, but never being able to get out to see the light and comfort. One cannot “qualify” to live in poverty one simply falls into poverty due to low incomes and families not being able to afford paying their dues.

3b. Three reasons why food insecurity is so high in children in the U.S.:

a. Parental and Physical Health- If a child is growing up with a parent with disability, mental health issues, or substance abuse are likely to suffer from food insecurity because the parent’s attention is impaired (Gundersen and Ziliak, 2014).

b. Immigrant Status- Research has shown that kids born from a foreign mother have 3x more of a risk to suffer from food insecurity (Gundersen and Ziliak,2014).

c. Complex Families- If a child has inconsistent family support in regard to financial and emotional support a child is more likely to suffer from food insecurity (Gundersen and Ziliak,2014).

3c. Food insecurity can be reduced by bettering program access to increases rates of who gets helped (Gundersen and Ziliak,2014). These programs include SNAP and a suggestion is for the program to do research to find results that show accuracy in how much money is spent on groceries (Gundersen and Ziliak,2014). Another way food insecurity can be reduced is by providing more assistance in the mental health field (Gundersen and Ziliak,2014). Mental health is an issue that is often not acknowledge and mental stability is important for a stable home. In order for someone to work and provide for their family they must be healthy in a aspects.

4b. My ideal program would include food assistance, health insurance, and home assistance for all families in poverty. A lot of the programs that exist already help a specific community and are closed to others. I would want to see a program that helps all the poor and provides the necessary “ingredients” to live a comfortable life. I say ingredients because I want the program to advocate for growth. This program could have connections with companies that teach children and help adults obtain a job where there is opportunity to obtain higher position.

References

Gundersen, C., & Ziliak, P. (2016, July 29). Childhood Food Insecurity in the U.S.: Trends, Causes, and Policy Options. Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/events/2014/09/15-childhood-food-insecurity

Bregman, R. (2017, June 13). Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash | Rutger Bregman. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydKcaIE6O1k

Sheffield, R. (n.d.). Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today? Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/07/what-is-poverty

WIC Program Overview and History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nwica.org/overview-and-history

Discussion

1. Choose from one of the following Government assistance programs:

I chose the Head Start Program.“Head Start was founded as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty in 1965. Since then, Head Start has grown from an eight-week demonstration project to include full day/year services and numerous program options. Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in centers, child care partner locations, and in their own homes. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being” (About the Office of Head Start, 2018). Requirements are, “children from birth to age five who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from homeless families, and families receiving public assistance such as TANF or SSI are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income” (Poverty Guidelines and Determination Eligibility for Participation in Head Start Programs, 2019). Pros are that it provides low-income families with children aged 5 and under programs that help develop the children’s brain such as childcare centers, provides health education so families can better prepare for their child’s health. It also can grow their cognitive, emotional, and social development through the program at an early age. Cons are that it does not continue after children are over 5 years of age. Parents then have to provide their own services and help whether they can afford it or not.

2b. How can the poor be poor if they own luxury items like TV's and AC?

Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the UK states, “Poverty is a personality defect.” Bregman states, “Poverty is not a lack of knowledge.” George Orwell states, “Poverty annihilates the future.” Bregman says, “We treat the symptoms, but ignore the underlying cause.” Such thing as a basic income guarantee - a monthly grant that pays for basic needs such as food, shelter, education. “It should be a right”, Bregman states. Dauphin, Canada did it and then poverty was non-existent. (Bregman, 2017). We should be given the poor basic income so they can provide what they need instead of what they want. We say earn a living, but essentially that is working to survive and that is what the poor are doing. They are working to survive. TV’s and AC yes they are luxury items, but it is living up to society’s standards. Society plays an important role in what it means to be poor. “To the average American, the word “poverty” implies significant material deprivation, an inability to provide a family with adequate nutritious food, reasonable shelter, and clothing” (Rector R. & Sheffield R, 2011). We live in a materialist society in America. We want everything. We want better and the best. That is how our society works. It may not be in other countries, but it is in the United States. Iceland states, “It is based on the notion that poverty is relative to a society’s existing level of economic, social, and cultural development” (Iceland, 2015, p. 27). We live and buy things up to the standard of today. We must match what it is to be “American.”

2c. Does owning such items disqualify them from being considered as living in poverty?

I do not think owning such items disqualify the poor from being considered as living in poverty. They are working to get their basic needs met such as shelter, food, and clothing. Like earlier, if we had a basic need income to provide such things it would eliminate poverty. We would not worry as much. Instead we could focus on our goals. Owning AC, cable TV, and an X-box is not necessary, but it is living up to the standard that society puts on. Having such things can make us feel as adequate as our neighbors. It shares a meaning as we can have conversations about it with each other. It makes us up to date. Poverty is different in the US compared to 3rd world countries. America lives in a materialistic society. It is the way it is.

3b. Provide THREE reasons of why there are so many children food insecure in the US (you must include data from the podcast in your answer

1) Income poverty even if income is 2-3x - 60% who live below poverty line is in food insecure households (Brookings Institution, 2014).

2) Substance abuse and living with disabled adult. Food insecurity rises 50-80% if household has depressed adult (Brookings Institution, 2014).

3) Immigrant status - foreign born mothers 3x likely to experience very low food insecurity compared to US born mothers, and complex families. Children raised by single parents, step-parent, or grandparents are more likely to be food insecure than living with married biological family (Brookings Institution, 2014). 3c. How can we reduce child food insecurity?

In 2012, nearly 16 million U.S. children, or over one in five, lived in households that were food-insecure, defined as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited access to food” (Brookings Institution, 2014).We can include services such as improving mother’s health such as mental health and depression can decrease food insecurity among children. Also expanding breakfast programs because only ⅔ participates (Brookings Institution, 2014). SNAP (food stamps) benefits could co-align with living expenses such as the higher rent in some areas. Improve mother’s health such as mental health and depression can decrease food insecurity among children.

4b. What additional program would you add to “Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act” (CNR) other than those listed above?You can create your "ideal" program and include the details of what the new program would encompass.

I think a healthy diet program, cooking skills, and increasing SNAP benefits in the summer months when school is out is beneficial. To learn to make nutritious foods we spend less of our SNAP benefits on junk food which leads to better health both mentally and physically. Also adding a hundred or so more to SNAP benefits in the summer months would help families provide home cooked meals on their table. Reference Page Bregman R. (2017, April). Ted2017. Poverty isn’t a lack of character; it’s a lack of cash [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/rutger_bregman_poverty_isn_t_a_lack_of_character_it_s_a_lack_of_cash?language=en#t-701469

Brookings Institution (2014, September 15). Childhood Food Insecurity in the US: Trends, Causes, and Policy Options. Podcast retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/events/childhood-food-insecurity-in-the-u-s-trends-causes-and-policy-options/

Head Start (2019, March 20). Poverty Guidelines and Determination Eligibility for Participation in Head Start Programs. Retrieved from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/eligibility-ersea/article/poverty-guidelines-determining-eligibility-participation-head-start Iceland J. (2013). Poverty In America: A Handbook. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University California Press.

Office of Head Start (2018, May 18). About the Office of Head Start. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs/about

Rector R. & Sheffield R. (2011, July 19). The Heritage Foundation. Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today? Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/report/air-conditioning-cable-tv-and-xbox-what-poverty-the-united-states