United Way of Bartholomew County 的动态

Today, the Foundation for Child Development released?its policy paper on halving child poverty and more with insights from parents and community leaders, advocates, and organizers illuminating the path forward. "Cutting Child Poverty in Half and More: Pandemic-Era Lessons From Child and Family Advocates and Organizers," co-authored by Olivia Golden and Vivian Tseng, provides a?comprehensive look at the unprecedented, yet temporary, federal policy reforms enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This response to the United States’ longstanding failures to invest in young children’s health, care, nutrition, and housing?—?among other gaps?—?offers lessons that provide a?blueprint for permanent solutions. Learn more and read the full policy paper: https://lnkd.in/eVEB6ZUD

When you were a kid, did you ever dream of befriending a Penguin, crushing a car in a monster truck, or eating your way through your own Cotton Candy Castle? Now's your chance with the #RedNoseDay Childhood Dreamstakes campaign, which taps into the fun, whimsy, nostalgic part of being a kid. Comic Relief US we believe children everywhere should experience the joy and wonder of being a kid. We strive for a world with less childhood poverty and more childhood. Funds from this year's #RedNoseDay campaign will benefit programs that help ensure less childhood poverty. So that means more education, safer places to live, health check-ups, and empowered kids.?As kids have greater opportunities to thrive, they are more likely to break the cycle of poverty for future generations. So check out the Childhood Dreamstakes campaign https://bit.ly/4bo5ZHD and enter to win one of six whacky prizes all supporting one serious mission - ending childhood poverty. ??

Where is the line?….. Anyone who works in public services, whether in the police service, NHS, Local Authorities or any other public organisation will know full well that over a decade of “tightening the belt” on the public purse means that more is being asked of less. Senior managers, executives and teams are fully aware that there isn’t an endless budget for the services we provide. And this is something the new Government is also having to get to grips with. We see in the news that there is increasing pressure to remove the two child benefit cap which would apparently lift thousands of children outside the experience of child poverty. This is a matter that colleagues working in #safeguarding need to pay attention to. Children living in poverty stricken communities are disproportionately represented within the safeguarding systems. Yet we know that a families income does not equal safety for children (affluent families still cause harm to children) but resources to prevent poverty and disadvantage can have a benefit to children at risk of experiencing harm. But would removing the 2 child benefit cap really lift children out of poverty? I haven’t analysed the figures and statistics but what I do know is that for people who are living with the very real prospect of choosing between food for a child, and food for themselves an additional ￡16.95 a week can go a long way to meet a families immediate needs. This isn’t about choices around what phone to get, or subscribing to a shiny new tech service. It is about the ability to buy new school uniform, or snacks for children. The thing is, there has to be a line somewhere. There is no magic purse that is automatically refilled. Well, that is what we are led to believe (there are very different approaches available which aren’t spoken about). But what is clear, hard decisions are never black and white and we rarely take time to understand the context (or we don’t give time and space to understand all the perspectives). Less than 4 weeks into the new government and the debates are already getting started. Interesting times for the #safeguardingcommunity #safeguardingchildren #safeguardingcpd #safeguardingadults #safeguarding #nhssafeguarding

For the next two weeks in our Poverty, Neglect, and Child Protection Reform series we are exploring the introduction and wide use of Differential Response in the Child Protection System following the TANF reduction of financial assistance to families. Key Points: 1. Impact of TANF Replacement: The shift from AFDC to TANF removed guaranteed financial assistance and associated social services, leaving many families without essential support. This gap led to an increased reliance on CPS to address families' needs, even when the core issue was poverty rather than neglect. 2. Evolution of CPS Services: In response to the loss of AFDC benefits, CPS expanded its role to provide more direct support to families struggling with poverty. This was aimed at preventing child maltreatment and reducing the need for out-of-home placements. 3. Differential Response Model: DR, also known as Alternative Response (AR) or Family Assessment Response (FAR), introduced a split approach within CPS: ? Traditional Track (TR): Handles cases of severe abuse and neglect. ? Alternative/Family Assessment Track (AR/FA): Focuses on families at lower risk, often dealing with issues related to poverty and material hardship. 4. Family-Friendly Approaches: DR emphasizes more engaging and less intrusive methods in the AR track, such as voluntary participation in services and avoiding punitive measures, in contrast to the traditional track’s more authoritative approaches. 5. Structural Reform Debate: Rather than reinstating comprehensive financial and social services safety nets, DR reform focused on modifying CPS to address these families' needs. The debate centers on whether this approach effectively serves vulnerable families or merely shifts responsibilities within the existing system. Question for Reflection: What strategies can you implement to ensure impoverished families receive adequate support without relying solely on the CPS system? Learn more: https://ow.ly/7Bn850TtwHE #differentialresponse #alternativeresponse #povertyandchildwelfare #cpsreform

"The Youth Panel’s ability to speak to how Baby Bonds would increase their sense of agency and help them realize their own dreams makes the policy less abstract, communicates the very real stakes for young people and their families, and lifts up shared values around economic mobility, fairness, and making the American Dream real." New on our #BabyBlogs, Shimica Gaskins, President and CEO of GRACE & End Child Poverty California, and Devon Gray, President of End Poverty in California (EPIC), discuss California’s progress in advancing its Baby Bonds HOPE Accounts Program, which convenes a Youth Panel of Experts to support program implementation and outreach. Read: https://bit.ly/3QOPEU2 #BabyBonds #HOPEAccounts #California

As we look ahead, the task facing the new Government looms large. The sad fact is that approximately 4.3 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK today. Across the nation, children attend school on empty stomachs or return to homes lacking heating or even a proper bed. An additional 1.4 million children experience mental health conditions, often without adequate support from an overstretched system. Our children deserve better, and we are calling on the Prime Minister and his Government to take bold action now to safeguard their futures. At the NSPCC, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that political leaders prioritise the protection of babies, children, and young people in their future plans, to ensure every childhood is one of safety, happiness, health and opportunity. Through our recent joint campaign with other children’s charities,?Children at the Table, we have been calling for the UK Government to: ?? Work together to improve the lives of babies, children and young people? ?? Put children’s needs and voices at the heart of decision making? ?? Spend more of the nation’s wealth on babies, children and young people #nspcc #childline #poverty #politics #labour #newgovernment #politicsuk #keirstarmer #childrenatthetable #charity #coalition #children #babies #families #youngpeople #policy #hunger #participation #youthvoice #legislation #mentalhealth #health #wellbeing Action for Children Barnardo's National Children's Bureau The Children's Society #everychildhood

Millions of children in the U.K. take advantage of the FSM on offer for their infant child (when they do not need it because they cannot opt out), yet a hundred thousand children with SEND miss out because of lack of reasonable adjustments. It’s outrageous. It’s discriminatory and yet parent carers are shamed for asking for help… The real shame lies in the fact that this is happening when poverty is highest in children with families with disabilities, in families with unpaid carers and in families with solo parents. The cost-of-disability is also high and all children with disabilities are more likely to experience food poverty at school some point during their lives… Sources: UNICEF and John Rowntree Foundation

Gov. Jeff Landry's new secretary of the Department of Children and Family services said, "...the state should be focused more on 'a pathway to self-sufficiency' rather than rely on government programs." Many Louisianans are ready to discuss what a pathway to children in our state having access to basic needs should look like, and cutting off this program is not it. We need a holistic approach to the cycle of poverty that is prevalent across Louisiana. I implore state leadership to continue the Summer EBT program and further explore ways to support the the most vulnerable in our state. Children cannot pull themselves up by their bootstraps. https://lnkd.in/g2M3zshE

Generational poverty isn’t inevitable. Here’s how we can change it. For decades, families have cycled through poverty. Stuck, generation after generation. But what if we could break this cycle? Rachel L. Castillo, CEO of Advocates for Children Georgia, is doing just that. Her approach? Intervene early. Focus on the next generation. Rachel has seen the reality: 18-year-olds, even young parents, facing homelessness with no support. But many of them want more for their children. They’re fighting for a better life. But they can’t do it alone. That’s where support programs come in. Here’s how it works: 1. Early Intervention - Stabilizing housing helps young adults and their families immediately. 2. Break the Cycle - Young parents with stability can finally create new paths for their kids. 3. A Vision of Hope - With support, these families can imagine a future beyond poverty. Imagine if every community did this. This isn’t just effective. It’s transformative. Catch our latest episode with Rachel L. Castillo down in the comments to learn how real change starts.