The Washington Post highlights the problems of unemployment for young African American men by reporting that nationwide:
"Joblessness for 16-to-24-year-old black men has reached Great Depression proportions -- 34.5 percent in October, more than three times the rate for the general U.S. population."
The Post also states that young African Americans are "Traditionally the last hired and first fired (and) have taken the brunt of the difficult economy, with cost-conscious employers wiping out the very apprenticeship, internship and on-the-job-training programs that for generations gave young people a leg up in the work world or a second chance when they made mistakes."
The article also discusses the issue of discrimination head on:
""Black men were less likely to receive a call back or job offer than equally qualified white men," said Devah Pager, a sociology professor at Princeton University, referring to her studies a few years ago of white and black male job applicants in their 20s in Milwaukee and New York. "Black men with a clean record fare no better than white men just released from prison.""
The Tuesday, November 24 Post article can be found at:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/23/AR2009112304092.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Four Out of Ten Births Are Medicaid Funded
In a new study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Foundation reports that:
"Over the past two decades, Medicaid has evolved into the nation’s largest payor of maternity related services. Medicaid, the nation's principal safety-net health insurance program, covers
health and long-term care services for 59 million low-income Americans, including children and
parents, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors. Today, nearly two-thirds of
adult women covered by Medicaid are of childbearing age."
Also, "Medicaid finances at least four in ten of all births nationally."
The study also includes tables which compare Michigan's medicaid eligibility, coverage, etc., with the other states. The full report may be found at:
www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/8014.pdf
"Over the past two decades, Medicaid has evolved into the nation’s largest payor of maternity related services. Medicaid, the nation's principal safety-net health insurance program, covers
health and long-term care services for 59 million low-income Americans, including children and
parents, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors. Today, nearly two-thirds of
adult women covered by Medicaid are of childbearing age."
Also, "Medicaid finances at least four in ten of all births nationally."
The study also includes tables which compare Michigan's medicaid eligibility, coverage, etc., with the other states. The full report may be found at:
www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/8014.pdf
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Where God Left His Shoes
Nice turn out last evening at The River in downtown Kalamazoo for the movie, Where God Left His Shoes. Kudos to the folks from Poverty Reduction Initiative who worked to make this event function so smoothly. Great job Kevin on the local video!
I would give the movie "two thumbs up" even though it had its flaws. The movie does do a good job of pointing out some of the complexities which may be at the root cause of homelessness and poverty: illiteracy, spousal abuse, mental disorders, bad luck and misfortune, past criminal behaviors/records, discrimination, apathy, and more.
The awareness of the issue of homelessness and poverty is perhaps a first step, a baby step.
Sometimes, there are those who are called to take us behind that first step:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." - Martin Luther King, April 1963 from the Birmingham jail.
Who knows? Perhaps, someone who attended last night's screening of Where God Left His Shoes will be moved to take action behind the first step.
A few theology students put the following video together which I found on YouTube this morning. Where does God leave His shoes? Take the time to find out about the problems faced by the homeless and the poor, and U2 will see that it is a Beautiful Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQTsUyFhPAY
I would give the movie "two thumbs up" even though it had its flaws. The movie does do a good job of pointing out some of the complexities which may be at the root cause of homelessness and poverty: illiteracy, spousal abuse, mental disorders, bad luck and misfortune, past criminal behaviors/records, discrimination, apathy, and more.
The awareness of the issue of homelessness and poverty is perhaps a first step, a baby step.
Sometimes, there are those who are called to take us behind that first step:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." - Martin Luther King, April 1963 from the Birmingham jail.
Who knows? Perhaps, someone who attended last night's screening of Where God Left His Shoes will be moved to take action behind the first step.
A few theology students put the following video together which I found on YouTube this morning. Where does God leave His shoes? Take the time to find out about the problems faced by the homeless and the poor, and U2 will see that it is a Beautiful Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQTsUyFhPAY
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Homeless: Compassion is Essential
Homelessness: A tale of two cities. New York has reduced the number of homeless by building housing. Los Angeles has not: "Affordable housing for all is not even a conversation in Los Angeles."
What can you do about homelessness? A good message toward the end of this 6-minute video:
"Compassion is essential. Talk to someone who is (homeless). Meet them. Include them..."
What can you do about homelessness? A good message toward the end of this 6-minute video:
"Compassion is essential. Talk to someone who is (homeless). Meet them. Include them..."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Michigan's Children: A Call to Action
Michigan's Children has issued a report entitled: "A Call to Action: Michigan's Next Generation Jeopardized Without Resolution of State's Structural Deficit."
For those needing to explain to community members, service clubs, church groups, board members, parent groups, or even state legislators, this document includes some thoughtful background on Michigan's financial problems and an analysis of the reductions to some of the programs that benefit Michigan's children and families.
The 6-page report can be found at;
www.michiganschildren.org/images/stories/BudgetBasics/2009/budget_and_revenues_11_12.pdf
For those needing to explain to community members, service clubs, church groups, board members, parent groups, or even state legislators, this document includes some thoughtful background on Michigan's financial problems and an analysis of the reductions to some of the programs that benefit Michigan's children and families.
The 6-page report can be found at;
www.michiganschildren.org/images/stories/BudgetBasics/2009/budget_and_revenues_11_12.pdf
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Alleviating Poverty in Michigan
The Commission for Community Action and Economic Opportunity has issued its long awaited report to Governor Granholm and the Michigan Legislature. The Commision which held a series of Community Forums in 2007 and 2008 and was a co-sponsor of the State Poverty Summit summarized the common threads in the Executive Summary:
Frustration: Negative, blaming or overwhlemed systems and/or caseworkers often lead to clients feeling judged and shamed. The inabiility to provide personalized customer service only compounds the challenges faced by people...
Disconnection: Disparate anti-poverty efforts among state agencies and other organizations lack a shared vision and coordinated apporach. This leaves significant gaps in services...
Over-regulation: Eligibility and other requirements-particularly more restrictive regulations-are confusing, difficult to meet, contradictory, and/or poorly explained...
Access: People frequently lack transportaion to services, as well as crucial information about what help is available...
Program shape and delivery: Services offered should reflect what is actually needed, allowing for innovative responses...
Allienation: People living in poverty are the experts on this experience, and-rather than being alienated by the system-they need to be consistently and wholly involved in the process of fixing problems...
Read the whole report at: www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5460_41977---,00.html. Go to the bottom of the page for the PDF.
Frustration: Negative, blaming or overwhlemed systems and/or caseworkers often lead to clients feeling judged and shamed. The inabiility to provide personalized customer service only compounds the challenges faced by people...
Disconnection: Disparate anti-poverty efforts among state agencies and other organizations lack a shared vision and coordinated apporach. This leaves significant gaps in services...
Over-regulation: Eligibility and other requirements-particularly more restrictive regulations-are confusing, difficult to meet, contradictory, and/or poorly explained...
Access: People frequently lack transportaion to services, as well as crucial information about what help is available...
Program shape and delivery: Services offered should reflect what is actually needed, allowing for innovative responses...
Allienation: People living in poverty are the experts on this experience, and-rather than being alienated by the system-they need to be consistently and wholly involved in the process of fixing problems...
Read the whole report at: www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5460_41977---,00.html. Go to the bottom of the page for the PDF.
New Berrien Mental Health Court aims to reduce recidivism
A Mental Health Court in Berrien County which opened last January is one of nine in the state funded as pilot projects by the State Court Administrative Office. It deals with underlying mental illnesses that can keep people like Amanda enmeshed in the criminal justice system.
From the Herald Palladium:
The new court is set up to solve problems by bringing together prosecutors, probation officers and mental health professionals. They work as a team to help people convicted of crimes who have certain diagnosed mental illnesses, emotional disturbances or developmental disabilities.Read more
The case load is small, currently 10 people, but the problems are complex, and working out solutions is a time-consuming process.
"These are challenging people," said Berrien County Trial Court Judge Angela Pasula, who oversees the program with Chief Judge Alfred Butzbaugh.
Mentally ill people can have a range of other problems - from unemployment, homelessness and lack of family support to poor physical condition and drug or alcohol problems.
"Some of these people literally don't have a place to go," Pasula said.
The new court aims to stabilize and improve the social functioning of mentally ill people convicted of felony or misdemeanor offenses.
Accomplishing those goals can mean a better qualify of life for those involved, improve public safety and reduce recidivism, officials say.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tea Partiers Branch Out to Anti-Immigration Rallies
Tea Partiers have expanded their anti-tax base and at least in some parts of Michigan are starting to embrace the anti-immigration politic.
At a recent Tea Party rally near Detroit, Gary Kahn of Redford claimed that "illegal residents are swamping the health care system and depriving actual Americans of the country's resources. “Why do all of these communists have the ear of the president,” he said. “They are trying to shred the constitution and there is not much I can do but at least I can stand up and be counted.”"
Coming soon to a community near you?
Mohandis Ghandi once said:
“Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.”
For more information about the tea party rally, see the Oakland Press article at:
www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/11/15/news/politics/doc4aff677180812256968123.txt
At a recent Tea Party rally near Detroit, Gary Kahn of Redford claimed that "illegal residents are swamping the health care system and depriving actual Americans of the country's resources. “Why do all of these communists have the ear of the president,” he said. “They are trying to shred the constitution and there is not much I can do but at least I can stand up and be counted.”"
Coming soon to a community near you?
Mohandis Ghandi once said:
“Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.”
For more information about the tea party rally, see the Oakland Press article at:
www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/11/15/news/politics/doc4aff677180812256968123.txt
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Budget Woes in Lansing and County Levels Impact Meth Treatment Program in Allegan
A model program for helping meth addicts may be reduced or eliminated in Allegan County. According to the Allegan News:
"Gun Plain Township has decided not to contribute to help keep the county’s meth diversion program in existence.
The program, run out of the Allegan County Jail, treats methamphetamine users and is being looked at as a model program, but the state grant that funds it is ending. Allegan County, which is in the midst of cutting its own budget due to falling property tax revenues, has not appropriated money to continue the program...
The program takes people with histories of meth addiction and criminal behavior and puts them into an intense treatment program, if a judge and the program’s board approve them. Twenty people have graduated from the program and, despite the addictiveness of meth, none have returned to jail or prison. Recidivism for meth addicts who don’t receive treatment is very high, program officials have said, and point to their graduates as having become productive members of society."
The full article can be found at:
www.allegannews.com/articles/2009/11/12/ue_news/3.txt
"Gun Plain Township has decided not to contribute to help keep the county’s meth diversion program in existence.
The program, run out of the Allegan County Jail, treats methamphetamine users and is being looked at as a model program, but the state grant that funds it is ending. Allegan County, which is in the midst of cutting its own budget due to falling property tax revenues, has not appropriated money to continue the program...
The program takes people with histories of meth addiction and criminal behavior and puts them into an intense treatment program, if a judge and the program’s board approve them. Twenty people have graduated from the program and, despite the addictiveness of meth, none have returned to jail or prison. Recidivism for meth addicts who don’t receive treatment is very high, program officials have said, and point to their graduates as having become productive members of society."
The full article can be found at:
www.allegannews.com/articles/2009/11/12/ue_news/3.txt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
