WOLDE Attends Child Poverty Task Force Meeting
02/22/08
On August 29, 2007, Governor Minner approved a Child
Poverty Task Force in the state of Delaware to reduce
the number of children living in poverty by 50% in
ten years. The Task Force consists of 25 members
representing many varied state departments and other
related positions who have come together in an effort
to develop an effective state-wide child poverty
reduction strategy.
Jennifer Rehm-Clark, WOLDE Founder and Executive Director, and Amanda Ganley, Policy Advocate and Senior Intern, were able to witness the Child Poverty Task Force in action during their most recent meeting on February 11, 2008. This special session included an informal presentation by Vermont Senator, Douglas Racine, on his state’s successes and shortcomings with their Child Poverty Council.
Jennifer Rehm-Clark, WOLDE Founder and Executive Director, and Amanda Ganley, Policy Advocate and Senior Intern, were able to witness the Child Poverty Task Force in action during their most recent meeting on February 11, 2008. This special session included an informal presentation by Vermont Senator, Douglas Racine, on his state’s successes and shortcomings with their Child Poverty Council.
Senator Racine’s insightful commentary focused on
strategies and suggestions surrounding the gain of
public will to change the rate of poverty among
children by becoming informed and involved citizens.
This is done, advised Racine, by dealing with this
endeavor as a political issue. Public awareness and
support are essential to achieving the larger goal of
reducing the child poverty rate by 50% in ten years.
Public forums, which are now in the planning stage,
will be hosted state-wide in an effort to generate
this significant attention.
To reach its goal, the Child Poverty Task Force plans on addressing four main issues facing children and their families: The first is to make work worthwhile, in providing effective supportive services to low-income parents. The second is directly related, which is to provide a stronger safety net for low and middle-income families who have no backup plan in place should they lose their employment due to illness or other situations such as that. These first two issues call for assistance with housing, transportation, heating costs, etc. The third addresses the subject of education, where low-income children are clearly scoring lower on standardized tests. Senator Racine added that “kids that start off behind, stay behind.” The last, but certainly not least of the issues is that of strengthening the relationships between parents and children, and getting communities to take ownership of their role in reducing poverty.
Among those in attendance were Terry Schooley of the Center for Community Research and Service at UD; John Taylor of the DE Public Policy Institute; Nancy Wilson of the Department of Education; Elaine Archangelo of the Department of Health and Social Services; Karen Curtis of UD’s School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy, Individual and Family Studies, and the Center for Community Research and Service; Cari DeSantis of the DE Children’s Department; Matthew Heckles of the DE State Housing Authority; Pam Maier of the Kid’s Caucas; Helene Keely of the Department of Labor; Alison McDowell of the Office of Child Advocate; Sally Coonin of the Governor’s Office and Alvin Snyder of Kids Count.
To reach its goal, the Child Poverty Task Force plans on addressing four main issues facing children and their families: The first is to make work worthwhile, in providing effective supportive services to low-income parents. The second is directly related, which is to provide a stronger safety net for low and middle-income families who have no backup plan in place should they lose their employment due to illness or other situations such as that. These first two issues call for assistance with housing, transportation, heating costs, etc. The third addresses the subject of education, where low-income children are clearly scoring lower on standardized tests. Senator Racine added that “kids that start off behind, stay behind.” The last, but certainly not least of the issues is that of strengthening the relationships between parents and children, and getting communities to take ownership of their role in reducing poverty.
Among those in attendance were Terry Schooley of the Center for Community Research and Service at UD; John Taylor of the DE Public Policy Institute; Nancy Wilson of the Department of Education; Elaine Archangelo of the Department of Health and Social Services; Karen Curtis of UD’s School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy, Individual and Family Studies, and the Center for Community Research and Service; Cari DeSantis of the DE Children’s Department; Matthew Heckles of the DE State Housing Authority; Pam Maier of the Kid’s Caucas; Helene Keely of the Department of Labor; Alison McDowell of the Office of Child Advocate; Sally Coonin of the Governor’s Office and Alvin Snyder of Kids Count.