Neighborhoods and Poverty Children and Families in Poverty

Neighborhoods and Poverty Children and Families in Poverty Housekeeping Spring Break Have you handed your work in? Also: Pop quiz!?

Does where you live matter? �Talk about how neighborhoods impact children and families �Consider the differences between poor urban areas vs. poor rural areas

Do neighborhoods influence functioning of parents and children? Hypothesis-Part 1: Economic and racial segregation have cutoff the poor, especially poor minorities, leading to social isolation. -William J. Wilson (1987)

Evidence for neighborhood segregation by race and economic status � Poor Whites: 32% live in a poor area � Poor Hispanics: 80% live in poor area � Poor African-Americans: 85% live in poor area

Connect theory to readings: � Is there evidence for economic and racial segregation in There are no children here? � What resources are available in this community? � Give an example of “social isolation” for Pharoah and Lafeyette. (who are the perceived “outsiders”)

Wilson’s hypothesis – Part 2 � Economic and racial segregation lead to: Loss of mainstream models and resources ▪ Education not meaningful because… ▪ Jobs not available Alternative paths to adulthood as rational ▪ Focus on short-term goals ▪ Use of welfare & underground jobs to survive ▪ Marriage not feasible

Application of Wilson’s Theory: Urban Gangs �Why do people join gangs? �Focus on short-term goals Safety, protection, income Influenced by age and cognitive development �Any positive effects from gangs? �Negative effects of gangs? Adults, children, and non-gang members

Does research support this theory? �If neighborhoods impact behavior, than changing neighborhoods should change behavior. (Rosenbaum & De. Luca, 2000) �Moving to Opportunity – U. S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD ), 1994 Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York, & LA 4, 600 low-income families living in inner city housing projects randomly assigned to inner city housing project or mixed-income neighborhoods

Positive Findings- Effects on parents �Increased safety Less gang activity �Improved health Less depression & anxiety Lower rates of maternal obesity and diabetes

Positive findings – Effects on children � Improved health Fewer injuries 65% decline in asthma attacks � Improved behavior Less fighting Fewer reported problems in school Less violent crime but more property crime Less distress and depression 15 years later

BUT, no differences in �WHY not successful in these areas?

Take away message: Does where you live matter? �Yes! �BUT- reducing social isolation and segregation doesn’t change everything Though a good first step!

What about poverty in rural areas? The forgotten fifth (O’Hare, 2009)

Surprising or interesting points from reading �Rural children more likely to be in deep poverty than urban �Less likely to live in married households

Rural children and families are MORE likely to be poor than urban children and families � Rural Families - 2009 � Urban Families - 2009 Median income is $40, 135 Median income is $51, 522 16. 6% in poverty 14. 9% in poverty 24. 4% of children in poverty 21. 6% of children in poverty

Is rural poverty more persistent than urban poverty? YES �Percentage of population whose poverty spell lasts for two or more years URBAN - 7% RUAL - 9% �BUT: It is a myth that once poor, always poor Over 80% of people experience poverty for less than 24 months at a time

Three rural areas with persistent poverty are the most isolated �Rural Appalachia White �Mississippi Delta Black �Southwest American Indian Reservations

Social Stratification: Economic and social institutions that help cause rural poverty? �Job market: Fewer jobs Lower paying jobs �Support systems Limited health or child care Isolation from service centers Limited transportation �State laws Minimum wage Health care

Individual factors that might explain rural poverty? �Limited education/skills �Poorer health Higher rates of smoking Lower physical activity Higher levels of disabilities �Cause or effect? Bioecological model

Rural Poverty Example: American Indians 2. 4 million Indians, 1. 3 live on reservations Unemployment Rates (2010) Indians (overall) U. S. 15. 2% 9. 1% High school graduation rates (2008) All Indians Those on reservations U. S. Percent below poverty line Indians US 76% 41% 75% 24. 2% 13%

Impact of deep poverty and stress on Health �Diabetes Indians twice the rate of whites �Life Expectancy Lowest in Western Hemisphere ▪ (except Haiti) �Suicide 70% higher than general population �Alcohol Deaths 5. 6 times higher than the US rate

Positive Changes: � Population growth � Established more than 31 accredited colleges since 1968

Group Discussion �Should casinos be allowed in Rhode Island to benefit the American Indian community?

Sources � � � O’Hare, W. (2009). The forgotten fifth: Child poverty in rural America. Durham, NH: Carsey Institute. Rosenbaum, J. , & De. Luca, S. (2000. ) Is housing moiblity the key to welfare reform? The Brookings Institution Surveys. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution. Rural Policy Research Institute, www. rupri. org Sanbonmatsu, L. , et al. (2011 ). Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing Demonstration Program: Final impacts evaluation. Downloaded from: http: //www. huduser. org/publications/pdf/MTOFHD_fullreport. pdf. Accessed on March 18, 2013. Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.