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Homeless and poor children in Delaware
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The news lately is filled with stories of homeowners facing foreclosures, as well as unemployment statistics, and what the government may or may not do to help these people out. We also hear lots of stories about how pets are falling victim to these foreclosures by being abandoned in a variety of ways (though one man in Philly chose to remain homeless until he and his dog could find a place to live). But there's not a whole lot being discussed about how poverty and homelessness, either sudden or chronic, is affecting children.
Poor and homeless children have become one of our country's dirty little secrets. We all know that they exist and yet no one wants to discuss it. It's as if our collective moral and ethical conscience, combined with our desire to sweep problems under the rug, have allowed us to ignore this most vulnerable population.
An article published yesterday on www.msnbc.com, 'Tidal wave of homeless students hits school' highlights many problems and challenges school districts face when dealing with homeless students. The cheese sandwich controversy highlights how parents' financial situations can impact their children. But how do these problems hit home? What is the situation in Delaware?
According to statistics published by Kids Count in Delaware:
- In 2007, 204,473, or 13.2%, of children in Delaware lived in poverty.
- During the school year 1599 students, or 1.3 per 100 enrolled, were homeless (Delaware school districts use the McKinney-Vento Act definition of homelessness)
- 43.5% of students in Sussex County, 36.1% of students in New Castle County, and 34.9student in Kent County received free or reduced lunch (according to Kids Count, "Free and reduced price lunch is the proxy measure for low income when examining education data")
Homeless students, as well as those living in poverty, typically experience poorer health which leads to additional school absences, the inability to afford proper supplies which leads to an inability to complete assignments, poorer nutrition which can lead to poor academic performance as well as illness, and dropout at a higher rate. All of these factors perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
So what can you do to help? One way to help is to become a sponsor for the Adopt-a-Student program, sponsored by DHSS. "The Adopt-a-Student program matches students in need with individuals who make a direct investment in the future of a child through a sponsorship by adopting a student (or students) and filling a backpack with needed school supplies. Once matched with a student, Adopt-a-Family provides sponsors with a list of requested supplies by grade and/or school district for the adopted student. Sponsors can additionally provide a gift card for a pair of shoes, a hair cut or one new outfit for school" (DHSS Press Release, June 27, 2006).
A second way is to contact agencies such as Families Connected, Inc or Ministry of Caring to see what is on their "wish list". Agencies like this are all around the state and help distribute school supplies to those who need it. A third way to help a child in need is to be an advocate. Talk to your representatives, school districts, neighbors. Get the word out that children need help and that we, as citizens, are going to make sure that they get it, whether that means immunizations, meals, or supplies. While measures are already in place to address these issues, educate yourself on what the State is doing. Suggest new ideas. Start a nonprofit. Hold a fundraiser. Do what you can; no assistance is too small.
I don't profess to be an expert on childhood poverty and homelessness and how those factors affect education. What can say is that all children deserve the chance to succeed in school, regardless of their home or financial situation. And if we can make a difference for one child, to help one child remain in school until he graduates, then we have done our part to help break the cycle of poverty.
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