| |
|
|
| |
The Correlation between Poverty and Neglect
(Part 1 of 2)
|
|
| |
A bruised knee. Unkempt clothing. Are these signs of child neglect or are they signs of a child living in poverty?
The answer, it turns out, is “It depends.”
|
| |
|
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
Assessment not Assumptions
|
|
| |
Assessing a child’s safety is a main consideration in making a report to the child abuse hotline. Is the child in imminent danger or at risk for impairment? Is the situation harming the child physically or emotionally?
Are we making judgments about a family based on a cultural divide? Deviations in things like clothing or even vernacular can lead many of us to make assumptions that may be more about cultural differences in lifestyles or parenting styles, than something that is a cause for concern.
“We start by looking at our individual biases and checking our assumptions at the door,” said D. Scott, Casework Supervisor of the Child Protective Services Team J for Monroe County Department of Human Services. “We are not walking on the planet alone. These families are dependent on us for their success, so when we look at the role of poverty in removals, we need to make sure we are not removing children because of the impact or appearance of poverty.”
If your experience tells you that a bruised knee and unkempt clothing, for example, are signs of child neglect, then a report needs to be made. But if you suspect, in the absence of injury, the child’s appearance may be linked to poverty, you have an opportunity to learn, be informed, and try to help that family.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
In our region, child poverty is concentrated in the City of Rochester, where the rate in 2020 was 48% or 21,879 children, 12,361 of whom were black or African American.* Data shows these numbers increasing, with growth in child poverty also on the rise in suburban Monroe County.
In 2020, there were 20 abused or neglected children for every 1,000 in the nine-county Rochester region, above the state rate of 15.* The rate has increased 40% from 2000.
While there is a correlation between poverty and neglect—with poverty a documented risk factor—it’s important to note that they are not one and the same. Families who are poor care for their children.
* www.actrochester.org
ACT Rochester is a community indicators program of Rochester Area Community Foundation, which provides assessment of performance on key indicators of well-being of the area’s nine-county region. Data was collected through the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey spanning the years 2016-20. Poverty thresholds vary by family composition and year. In 2020, the threshold for a four-person family with two children under the age of 18 was $26,246.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Child neglect can include deprivation of food, shelter, clothing, adequate supervision or medical treatment “though financially able to do so or offered other reasonable means to do so,” according to the legal definition of maltreatment in NYS. Providing all of these things can be daily challenges for families living in poverty. Struggling families find themselves making difficult choices that may impact their children due to financial considerations that often stem from limited opportunities.
“When you look at the issue historically,” said D., “it’s clear that racial bias and inequities have contributed to the correlation between poverty and neglect.”
D. said that there is a disproportionate number of abused and neglected children from black families in our region as a result of racial inequality. She cited data from a 2022 report on racial justice in the child welfare system** that states that out of 547 children placed in foster care in Monroe County, 412 were children of color.
“Poverty is more than just a financial problem,” said D. “Access to housing is related to your level of education. There are different balances in the economic picture from one community to another.” She continued, “A higher tax base district, for example, has more resources, access to more information, and more diverse educational opportunities.”
** New York State Bar Association Report and Recommendations from the Committee on Families and the Law, “Resolution Addressing Systemic Racism in the Child Welfare System in the State of New York”
|
| |
|
| |
|
What You Can Do to Help
|
|
| |
D. asks us to think about the simple things that many of us take for granted, like transportation and resources. A bus pass, for example, would allow a family that can’t afford a car to get their child to doctor’s appointments, which has been linked to an increase in school attendance. But at $56 per month, that “simple” thing may be unreachable for a family living in poverty. However, Medicaid allows for free transportation to medical appointments, yet many families aren’t aware of, or understand how to access, this resource.
“Mandated reporters can take advantage of the information and resources at their disposal,” suggested D. “Participate in a Zoom session offered through a community agency. Learn about your neighbors and be aware of what is affecting them. Learn about what the challenges are for a single parent with a bunch of kids.”
D. asks everyone working with children to broaden their lens. “Rather than refining the tools at our disposal to meet our individual expectations, work to understand the community and families we engage with. Broaden your lens by expanding your understanding.”
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
