Understanding Barriers to Economic Independence

Hoo boy, doesn't that sound profoundly academic after my last, and very trivial post? ;-)

Well it is. The following is an article I wrote for my office's newsletter - the information which, it should be noted, came from my renewed interest in the Grad School of Public Affairs at UCD - they sent me a HUGE packetful of interesting/recruiting info re: their school/program, including their magazine which had a brief blurb on the study I talk of. Funny how things all tie together, eh?

-Without further ado, Ta-DAH! here is the article-

UCD Study Gains Understanding of Barriers to Economic Independence

In 2002, the University of Colorado at Denver’s (UCD) Graduate School of Public Affairs (GSPA) and the Colorado Department of Human Services partnered to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant allowed Colorado to participate in a multi-state study of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, assessing client characteristics that help or hinder their attempts for self-sufficiency. The Colorado report generated by the study was published in November 2003, but only recently was made available on the web.

TANF is the federal program which replaced the older Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program as a result of the passage of The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. PRWORA mandated a national restructuring of America’s welfare system, with key changes including:

~A new 60 month lifetime limit on receiving financial assistance for each family;
~Federal requirements that States engage more of their caseloads in work activities; and
~Increasing States’ flexibility in overseeing and implementing welfare and other service related programs.

For Colorado, the Colorado Works program was implemented in 1997 to complement the new TANF program. The State of Colorado decided to pass the new flexibilities, allowed by PRWORA, on to the counties. As such, emphasis on education, on-the-job training, job-seeking and other procedures for TANF recipients vary throughout the state.

Sounds Great, Why the Study?

Despite indications that the changes were helpful for many families to transition from welfare to work, still many families are facing difficulties. According to the Study,

These changes in law and program structure, coupled with a strong economy, led to dramatic drops in welfare caseloads in both Colorado and the nation. While some families have been forced off the rolls due to their inability to comply with requirements, studies have documented that many have left welfare for
employment. But others remain dependent on TANF for extended periods and their
TANF time clock is ticking. For these families, it is likely that they face
barriers that extend beyond limited work experience.

The Study’s focus was to determine why some TANF families are not successfully finding sustainable employment. The methodology for the Study consisted of UCD’s GSPA staff and students interviewing 521 TANF recipients across the state, as well as reviewing files housed at the Colorado Department of Human Services. A total of 5,284 single-parent TANF cases were studied. According to the Study, “These [single-parent] cases comprise about half of the total caseload, but they are of primary interest in studying barriers to employment since the adults in these cases are the ones who are subject to time limits and work requirements.”

We at the City of Loveland Human Services Office feel that it is important for our community to visibly see some of the trends we are facing, and offer this article as an overview of the Study. The entire study is accessible on the web at http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/leavers99/state-rpts/co/welfare-barriers.pdf and has a lot of useful information. (Ya'll kinda already know that!)

Findings

Some of the Study’s findings are a challenge to prevailing stereotypes. For instance, many more of Colorado’s case load are short-term TANF recipients than long-term. To quote the report,

More than half have received TANF for one year or less. Indeed, 23% have [only] received assistance for less than 6 months.

Another myth was dispelled when the Study looked at education. While some may be of the opinion that welfare recipients are undereducated or simply uneducated, the Study concluded that Colorado’s TANF recipients are “better prepared educationally for workforce participation” than those in the other 5 states participating in the Study. For instance, the vast majority (71%) had at least a high school diploma/GED, with 41% having education beyond high school. In addition to educational preparedness, the Study suggests that Colorado TANF recipients have or exceed the prerequisite skills for entry-level employment. With these findings, one inevitably wonders what employment barriers beyond education and experience these Colorado families face.

Individual Factors

Is a person able to remain employed if they have repeated absences due to a chronic health condition? For 25% of Colorado TANF recipients, the answer is no, but because they are not eligible for Social Security Disability, they rely on TANF and try to find employment in the meantime. And, how likely is it for a person who suffers from social phobia and yet is limited to entry-level employment dealing with customers to remain in that job long-term? That’s just one example, but 40% of TANF recipients interviewed reported having mental health issues, and without proper vocational guidance to meet their needs as well as appropriate mental health care finding sustainable, long-term employment is difficult. In addition, 18% of TANF recipients demonstrate signs of a learning disability.

Family Factors

Imagine being the parent of a special needs child – special needs being related to either health issues, behavioral issues, or both. Finding childcare which accommodates special healthcare is very difficult, and if between gaps of specialized childcare providers, the parent must be absent from work, for how long can that continue? The same issue is posed for the parent who has to repeatedly leave to put out behavioral fires at their child’s school. Another scenario is having an elderly parent or disabled spouse to care for – but the end result is the same; most employers don’t care to retain employees who are frequently absent. Four in ten TANF recipients face these kinds of extraordinary caretaking responsibilities.

Another family factor that ends up being the barrier to employment is domestic violence. For 20% of TANF recipients, “severe, physical domestic violence,” had been experienced in the last year. Domestic violence alone has intense psychological impacts on the victim as well as the children, and that can factor into employment barriers. But added strain comes when a victim decides to leave the abuser and faces homelessness. How easy is it to obtain employment when one doesn’t even have a mailing address or phone number to be reached at?

Other Factors

~Unstable Housing – The majority of recipients moved one or more times during the year, with 29% moving more than once. After mental health issues and care-giving responsibilities, unstable housing was the 3rd most common barrier to retaining employment.

~Transportation - About one-third of TANF recipients do not have a valid driver’s license, and three in ten do not own or have access to a vehicle.

~Lack of Good Jobs – during the span of this study, 2002-2003, and since, the state of Colorado has been in an economic recession. For purposes of the Study, a “good job” was one that met all of the below characteristics:

Wages more than $8.00/hr
Regular, fixed, day-time hours
Not temporary or
seasonal, and
Offers paid leave (sick or vacation) and health insurance

Only one out of five jobs held by TANF recipients (currently or in the 12 mos prior to the Study) met all of the characteristics. The Study noted that as a job had fewer of the above characteristics, the duration of employment decreased.

Perhaps most disturbing about these barriers is that TANF families rarely face just one of them, instead, most face several, which has a compound effect on the feasibility of finding gainful employment. Peggy Cucti, research director at UCD’s GSPA, said in a recent UCD publication, “The more the barriers, the harder it is overcome any one – and the harder it is to hold a job.”

--------------------------

That's all I wrote for the article, b/c I don't want to step on the toes of local policy makers. But this article PROVES that our TANF offices need to screen for these family/health issues and provide GOOD referrals to service providers who can assist them with those needs, while TANF workers can focus on getting the parent(s) back into the workforce.

And, it also means that there's a huge need for services that 1.) don't exist (i.e. good, feasible transportation - there are accounts of getting a child off to school and then to work taking OVER 2 hours in these parts), or 2.) have not a way to expand....based on current funding.

Something's got to GIVE....which is why, in 500 words or less er, 1300+ words, I want to go back to school so I can be a policy advocate/lobbyist/maker.

For Girls ONLY - No Boys Allowed!

That is to say, I'm about to go on a body type/clothing rant.

Thus the title of this post is dual in purpose:

1. you of the y chromosome persuasion usually don't care to hear this talk anyway (so go away!); and
2. it involves my ubus - and I don't really want guys tuning in to get a mental picture, know what I mean? Ewwww, *shudder*!

So....let the ranting commence...

The other day I'm at Target, for the purpose of getting LMNOB some tights for school as the days are getting cooler. And, feeling a little bit blue lately, I thought to check out the clearance racks and pick me up a little sump'n sump'n somethin' somethin' some'in some'in (ok, so I don't know how in the world you spell that colloquialism, but you know what I'm saying right?!?!) as a pick-me-up.

And so I found this, only in a nice rust-orange color perfectly complementary to a few of my fall outfits (with a jacket of course). And it was marked down to something like $3.25! KA-ching! It was a large, which is the size I must go with since I do not even remotely resemble the model's body type.

Herein lies the body rant...and somewhat descriptive talk about my ubus. (So, really go away, you boy lurkers!)

I'm a 38B - which I've determined is the absolute hardest small-cup bra size to find. (Note the emphasis - I know there are women out there who go higher up the alphabet than D and those bras are tough to find too).

Not to mention that because I'm "little more than a handful" I should be able to wear a large shirt, given the width of my shoulders, arms, etc. And for the cami-type shirts that usually holds true, though sometimes I need to go with a medium b/c of inadequate ubu flesh. I find it difficult though, in the case of button down shirts. What my friends who are a 36 C++ can wear, I cannot, without the tacky gap in between buttons. When I go a size larger, my silhouette becomes frumpish, because, from the armpits down, I am swimming in excess material, even in fitted styles. So, I can either have a form, albeit with little peep shows running up and down my torso, or I can be completely covered and very non-shaped.

But back to the issue at hand....the tank. I put it on today, originally with a bra.

But, because

1. my bra showed thru the macrame; and
2. it had a shelf bra built in,

I quickly discarded the undergarment and put my tank on. With its built in handy dandy shelf bra. I then finished my outfit with my khaki sorta-blazer that I LOVE.

I determined that the total effect was beyond cute, and left the home feeling quite pleased this morning. Until.......

The shelf bra adeptly moved such that my girls were hanging out, which created a nice line across them (not!), and called for several readjustments thru the day. And, don't get me wrong, my boobs are nice and all, but it's not my thing to be constantly at them, you know? ;-) I am a girl after all, and not a boy.

The clothing rant is this - so my breasts are REALLY anti-BIG, yet a LARGE shirt doesn't cover them? Clothing manufacturers make no sense what. so. ever in the U.S..

Ok, cheap clothing manufacturers - after all we are talking Target, but we're also talking my budget.

I mean, what would a girl who is a C+ cup and yet two inches less in body circumference do? I'd think she'd be falling out more than me! But then, particularly with shelf-bra style tanks/camis, if you go a size too large, you may as well have NOTHING supporting the girls....KWIM?

I know...I know...all the uber savvy shoppers are going to tell me to quit wasting my time and leave Target for Anne Taylor. But that's a commitment I'm terrified to make. After all a bargain for $3.25 is pretty much unheard of there, right?

SADD

It's fall now

which means the earth has tilted

and things in life have, again, somehow

become very forced and stilted

Gone is the ease

of summer days

with its cool breeze

whispering through the sun's warm rays

Shadows form at all times

now that new angles dictate

from where exactly the sun must shine

And seeing new shadows cast, my heart anticipates:

Him being gone more

Kids driving me nuts

My sense of self flying out the door

Hearing more famililial "ifs" "ands" and "buts"

Holiday mania in all but me

A full planner with family events

Feeling like I'm on the outside looking in to see

Anxious about all the predetermined precedents

Yeah, it's September

And the earth has tilted

For as long as I can remember

Fall has come and made my life forced and stilted.

Having a Romans 7:15 Day

I'm fixated on something I shouldn't be.

And I have been mentally telling myself, "Get a GRIP, chica - this is the LORD'S day - not YOURS!"

I keep telling myself, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Only to fail at keeping this mental notion captive and submitted to the Lord.

So....now I've been accountable and 'fessed up - maybe that will help?
Second, will you pray for my thoughts?

So Much Fodder to Ponder

In other words....I'm a blog-a-holic, and just can't quit reading the thoughts of others.

Particularly when they interest me so profoundly!

There are the mommy-logues I read from mothers who write so damn well, like Chris, who candidly shares her perspectives/experiences from motherhood, ranging from the endless supply of groaners our kids give us, to who am I posts like this.

Then there are the bloggers I've known for awhile like L, Purple Kangaroo, and Heather. Or, my siblings - in which their blogs might be the only current insights I have of their lives.

And, then, the group I read so much of - the preacher guys!

Take my man Stoned-Campbell Disciple. His recent post is about the thoughts of many that the God of the OT and the God of the NT differ so vastly....and how he disagrees with that. I have to say that I agree with him. all. the. way.

Then, there's Mike Cope and his inquiry, "Does God Want You to be Rich?" Good thoughts there, and moreover, some REALLY interesting comments. Of course, they kinda pale in comparison to the STRONG sentiments aroused (pun absolutely intended, lol ) by all the Joe Beam-inspired sex talk.

Finally, there's Larry James, my new hero among the rest of us mere mortals. His post today about relief versus renewal with respect to social welfare issues leave me at a standing ovation up here in Colorado.

Here's a taste (emphasis mine):

The problem is, we often stall out at relief. We find it harder, sometimes impossible to take the next step or to move over into a new area of work when it comes to bringing long-term renewal to people who live in poverty....

Whereas, relief work can be exciting, straightforward, conveniently packaged and easily quantified (as in, "How many meals did we serve today, Fred?"), the work of renewal can be messy, hard, depressing, halting and not so easily measured as to effectiveness.

(Larry, I'll have you know, I e-mailed that post to several of my NPO friends 'round here.)

So really....how is a girl to get much done when there is so much GOOOOOD fodder to ponder???

There's a Huge Amount of Truth...

...in Rosie O'Donnell's recent claim that radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam to our country.

Now, before my fellow brothers and sisters jump at me, let me explain my POV.

So called Christians like Jerry Falwall are hate mongers, simply put. And what does the Word of God say about that?

1John 2:4 - The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him

followed up by

1John2:9-11 - Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

In my estimation, these folks are Christians in name only, and not at all what the Lord would have us model to the world. After all, how can someone profess Christ [and thus His teachings], read these kinds of passages in the Word, and then parade around with signs saying "God HATES fags?"

Applying the principle in the above passage looks to me something like:

God = light, love, etc.
A brother who hates people = stumbling in darkness = ungodly

So, if a brother who hates people = ungodly, it's not a huge leap to say that God ≠ hatred of people, right? And, it would make sense that per 1 John 2:4, if a person professing Christ but holding on to hatred is a liar, then they are bound to say false things like, "God HATES fags," right?

Never in the Bible does it say God hated, ever has, or ever will hate a PERSON. Just the contrary, according to John 3:16 and other key verses of the Bible. The same source of knowledge does say that God hates certain actions or mentalities, and in the OT, gives a course of action for people who transgress into those behaviors.

Which brings me to the next point I'd like to make. Adultery used to be a capital offense. Yet when Christ came to earth, He changed the rule-book. Take John 8:1-11. Instead of a step-by-step presentation indoctrinating the hows and whys this woman's sin was wrong and thus separated her from God, Jesus merely said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and leave your life of sin." We find similar words spoken to the Samaritan woman.

People like Falwell have made homosexuality the "new" adultery (think 'Pink is the new Black') desiring the same castigation that adultery used to have as consequence, when in actuality, we should be focused on ourselves, not the doings and supposed shortcomings of others. I'm not without sin, EVER, so how can I EVEN begin to think I can judge someone else, regardless of the behavior/lifestyle/etc?

So, back to my original point. Rosie's statement. She's right, unfortunately. Moreover, these so-named radical Christians are a huge threat to Christianity in general, allowing Satan to add/delete to/from the gospel of Christ with people falling for it.

In fact, the only radical movement that wouldn't negatively affect America is a radical act of kindness movement. And, wouldn't it be something if Christians were the ones to implement it?

Some Things Do Work Out in the End

One of the women who was totally heinous to me during the count process is no longer with her agency.

This is BIG news to everyone who heard it - and the cause for rampant speculations on the behalf of us who were in the know with respect to her behavior toward me. No one knows whether this was a quit vs a fire situation; though had it been a planned quit, word would have gotten out, I'd think.

I have a rationalization all set up for the glee that this tidbit provided for me:

You see, "Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth," so on the mere possibility of someone seeing this chick's "true colors," which have nothing to do with helping the needy and everything to do with glorifying herself, my heart rejoiced - and it's scriptural!

That's said really tongue-in-cheek, folks - joke! I know it's not nice to rejoice over the demise of others, but if her demise = increasing services to the poor, well how can that be all bad?

Held Hostage

It seems a number of things have held me hostage of late,

• Family of Origin Difficulties
• Depression
• Financial Woes
• Et....Cetera.................................

So, it would make sense for it to show up in my dreams, or so I supposed this morning.

I am driving alone in the hilly countryside of my youth; it was clearly Washington with evergreens and rhodendenrons everywhere the eye could see - but in that dreamy "it-was-this-exact-thing-except-for..." sense, which became clear when the person of my dreams appeared.

As I walk into the unfamiliar house, my new friend from the FCPD is there, in uniform.

"Get down, there is a guy with a weapon hiding in here!" He tells me in a desperately quiet and gruff voice.

The weird thing was that there was no, "What are you doing here?" or anything of that nature, that and I wasn't surprised to see the boys in blue there, but hey it's a dream right?

Another officer shows up from within the house. He stands telling my friend that he is puzzled as to where this guy has gone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the suspect behind officer #2.

At this point my dream became an out of body perspective.

My eyes grew wide, as I point and scream, "Behind you!" as the officer ducks down, he avoids the ambush of his attacker. The guy keeps going and before any of us knew it, he has me, gun to my head and everything.

I am outwardly calm, but my heart is throbbing in panic mode. The feelings of terror are all consuming as my buddy begins to negotiate with him. My eyes frantically beg him to be successful and get me out of this mess. My captor only grows more agitated, and I can see the worry in the eyes of the officers. This does not put me at ease. Things crescendo to a boiling point where my friend, seeing no other option, ends up shooting the man who has ahold of me.

Gratitude for my life and his courage to act fill my heart. Terror at the knowledge of how this all could have ended swells from within, and the sobbing starts. Uncontrollably.

My friend embraces me, and says, "Hey kiddo, you knew I had your back, right?" I nod, but I'm still crying.

Later, the captor's sister shows up and we speak briefly. Though I can't remember what about.

And right about there, the alarm clock went off this morning.

I can't really make sense of the dream, except for what I said above. Seems a stretch to me.

Anyone up for dream analysis?

Overheard from the backseat

A very smug LMNOB to little brother Punkinhead: "I'm smarter 'cuz I'm older [than you]!"

An indignant Punkinhead: "Nuh-UH! I smart too!"

LMNOB pushes that button just a bit more: "Nope, I'm smarter.." One could faintly hear the phantom taunt of nanny-nanny boo boo trailing after her insistence.

And just like that, Punkinhead ended the dialogue.

"No sistew, you'we BOH-WING!"

At which, I laughed, hard. LMNOB, the game of wits with your brother is ON.

More Colossians

This week, our group is studying Colossians 1:15-23:

The Supremacy of Christ
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

The questions are from a different discussion leader in our group, and are as follows:

1. Why is it important for you, like the Colossians, to be convinced of Jesus' all encompassing role in the creation and the sustaining of the world?

-- because collecting my thoughts is like crossing a tar-field, the only thing I can think of right now is that His role in the creation and sustenance of this world help me to rcognize the Divinity in Christ. I often relate well to the Humanity in Him, but seem to have difficulty grasping both his Divine nature and Human nature simultaneously. Clear as mud, right?
Edited to add: After our discussion Sunday night, it's also important to note that often we try to "contain" Christ to just the 30-some years he was on earth, but He has been since the beginning!

2. Why must Jesus have the supremacy?

--I'm assuming this means in our lives, as Christians. And, for me I'm saying Jesus must reign supreme or else our lives bear false testimony to the world on what it means to be in Christ. A lot of people think this is synonymous with sin-less living and thus impossible, but I don't think that's the point at all. I think if Christ is our foremost desire, and people are well aware of that, then even when we confess sin, Christ is apparent in our lives, via our willingness to become transparent and our desire for cleansing.

3. Why do we need to be reconciled to God?

-- Because He cannot live where there is sin, and there is sin in our lives, Something needed to reconcile us, because He longed to be together with us again.

4. What keeps us alienated from God?

--Sin, particularly undisclosed sin.

5. What will keep us holy in God's sight and free from accusation?

-- I think a tight relationship with our Abba is one of the foremost things we must pursue. Placing ourselves in environments conducive to spiritual growth and prohibitive of temptation helps us as we are weak. When we are strong, and I believe this is cyclic instead of progressive, we need to be out there helping our weaker neighbors. When we are weakened, I say it's time to retreat and focus on growing near to God. Free from accusation, means that there's not a chance God could misconstrue something in my life - which means I need to be clear on it too.

6. Give some specific examples of how you could continue in your faith, established and firm?

-- I think day to day living with the knoweldge and faith of what Christ has done for me is "continuing in my faith." Established and firm? Most of the time, though there are the times when I waver - as we all do. Basically I think that what I said above about the cycle of times of growth and times of service is how we get to where we can do that day to day living I talked of earlier. Attending church, regular study and prayer time, talking with my Christian friends and husband about my life, etc all help accomplish this.

7. What does it mean to "not be moved from the hope held out in the gospel?"

-- For me, I think concrete. I think this is remaining true to Christianity, and not embracing Buddhism, Confuciunism, or whatever the new age trend happens to be, when times get rough. I also think that it means always having heaven on our hearts, instead of going thru motions taken for granted.

I've got a Head Cold

Which explains part of why I'm feeling so crummy.

But the rest?

I'd say that it stems from the sick realization that it's happening again.

I've got that detached, sticky like a cobweb thinking that has me tired, distractable, and totally out of it.

Why?

Why can't I just have a clean, neat and tidy, CONTAINABLE episode of depression?

Why does it have to resurface and permeate every aspect of my life?

And, why, why do I have to be so damned aware of it?

Because, as soon as I become aware of the depression, I start to realize just how hard life is on everyone in my life. I wonder, am I that hard to live with? Many people with mood disorders don't even get that, but I do and it just plain sucks, kwim?

Why can't I be oblivious and blissfully ignorant?

What I'm about to say is extremely tongue-in-cheek:

I wish at times I could abandon reality and merely solve the world's problems by joining the church of Scientology, where I will become an expert on my own mental health issues, as well as the world over.

But.....then,



.....I'd be psychotic and not just depressed.


Gotta find some humor, eh?