By Paul Krieger, Intern for United Way
I remember
my dad telling me stories about growing up in poverty. Of the hot summer sun in
the San Joaquin Valley where he and his younger brother picked cotton for less than
five cents a pound. Of the small, two room bungalow where the brothers lived
with their mother, step-father and two sisters. Of sleeping on the kitchen
floor during winters and on the porch during summers and of the dirty well
water they used to wash and bathe themselves. Through it all my father
maintained a strong determination and spirit that manifested itself in a
youthful desire to become a preacher.
Yet without
the intervention of a caring aunt and the excellent support and belief of his
local school, he almost certainly would have fallen into the same generational
poverty that marked his family. With their support, however, my father was able
to be the first in his family to go to college, then on to graduate school and
afterward, a rewarding career in public service. Because there were critical supports
— concerned school counselors and teachers, a supportive faith community and a
mentoring family member — he was able to prevail in the belief that if he
worked hard enough, he could find a place in the world for himself and his
family.
Yet not all
children are as fortunate as my father. Many are unable to escape poverty’s
downward pull. During my father’s college years, poverty steadily declined for
all Americans, reaching 11.3 percent in 1973 according to the National Poverty Center. Today,
however, childhood poverty is worse than ever, especially since the onset of
the 2008 recession. According to UNICEF, the U.S. now has
a childhood poverty rate of 23 percent, among the worst of the industrialized
world. For comparison, our rate is slightly lower than Romania’s but higher
than Spain or Latvia. This rate is even higher for minorities like African
Americans and Native Americans, groups who suffer the worst during periods of
recession such as our current one.
The
situation for children in poverty in Oregon is particularly alarming when
compared to the national situation. According to a report by
Children First for Oregon, in 2011, 44 percent of children lived in poverty or
in low-income families, with 24 percent at poverty level — an amount that is
the 14th worst in the country and above the national average. Over half of Oregon
students are now eligible for free or reduced lunches. As noted in this OregonLive
article,
the economy is not creating jobs fast enough to reduce the demand on public
assistance. Many Oregonians are exhausting their unemployment benefits and
turning to cash welfare, the number of which has more than doubled since 2006.
According to the American
Psychological Association, the stress poverty places on families negatively
impacts the ability of children to learn. The emotional toll leads to
depression in children, lower attention spans and lower academic performance. This
is a time when children learn to form friendships and adapt to the demands of
school and their outside environment. Parents overwhelmed by financial stress
are less able to meet the caregiving needs of their children and this in turn
negatively impacts the educational readiness of the child — the largest single
indicator of their future success and the biggest determinant for breaking the
cycle of generational poverty.
To meet this
crisis of our region’s children, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is
adopting a new strategic focus that seeks to help end this problem within a
generation — a strategy that will involve a shift in the way we engage with the
community: we will become an engaged organizer and partner of the community
rather than simply the fundraising organization we have been known for being in
the past. Our new focus will involve effecting outcomes in three key areas:
successful kids, stable families and connected communities.
Not having a
high school diploma effectively dooms a child to a life of poverty so we will
strategically invest in and work with partners that support student success at
all grade levels including preschool, high school graduation and college/career
transition after high school. Recognizing that children live in families, we
will also support programs that promote family health and stability. Finally,
we believe that some of the best solutions grow out of communities themselves;
we will therefore be making long-term investments in and work with a cohort of
strong community partners.
To help kids
succeed, we fund organizations that implement programs that support students
all the way from preschool to high school graduation (the biggest determinate
of overall life earning potential). For instance, Self-Enhancement, Inc. has a strong
mentorship program concentrating on the needs of students both in and outside
of class. I Have a Dream’s The Dreamer
School Project, builds long-term relationships, academic and social support
services and creates a “culture of college” within school. Or the Youth
Advocacy Program at the Native American Youth and Family Center which
provides intensive educational and culturally specific community services for Native
youth, focusing on developing strong peer relations and collaborative problem-solving.
Funded projects like these will help young students receive the supports they
need both in class and without in order to maximize their chances of academic
success.
So many
years ago, my father was fortunate enough to receive the kind of supports he
needed to overcome the obstacles that would have condemned him and his family
to a life of poverty. Because of the support he received, he and his family
were able to realize their dreams and build a middle-class life. The
contributions you make to United Way can similarly help children from
low-income families break the cycle of generational poverty, not only helping
them reach their dreams but also ensuring our entire community becomes
healthier and economically stronger.
Learn
more about how we help kids succeed. If you’re with a local organization
that supports successful kids, stable families or connected communities, you
may be interested in our funding
opportunities.
