The recession that has hit America in the recent years had ill effects on almost everyone in the country. Many individuals in the southeast Kansas area were hit especially hard due to the amount of businesses that either closed their doors or had to downsize and lay off numerous employees. Many of these people may have had the option of using the unemployment system, but if they had no savings, this was only a fraction of what they were making before. There are multiple other options out there that can assist individuals that are in low-income situations, but they are unaware of what these options are. If a person has never lived in a low-income situation, the fact that there are programs that offer food assistance, cash assistance, and child care assistance. That is just three of the numerous programs that are offered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The problem is not only that people are unaware of these programs, but that when they are suddenly thrown into a much lower income situation due to layoffs no one explains that there is help out there if it is needed.
There is a certain stigma placed on individuals receiving unemployment compensation, or food/cash assistance, and some people feel that they will be looked down upon if they apply or receive any of these types of assistance. They fear that they will be labeled as “lazy” or “free-loaders”, so even if they are aware of the programs they still may not try to get the much needed assistance that is there for them.
My proposed activism is creating a program where a group of students or individuals are educated in the assistance programs and could be contacted by companies that were going to be closing or laying-off workers, and having one on one meetings or group presentations to the individuals that were being affected. There are numerous different types of assistance programs available for single individuals, as well as families and single parents. Some programs are only offered to families with children.
The students involved in the educational program could be comprised of people going into the field of social work as well as individuals that had gone through a similar situation and could have benefited in some way from the assistance programs offered by the state, county, or city. They could choose the area of programs they would like to learn about, such as focusing on families with children or on the nutritional programs available.
My goal with this educational program is not only to educate individuals about the free assistance programs available, but also to show them that there is a light at the end of a dark, scary tunnel. Suddenly being laid-off can cause more than just monetary stress, but also emotional stress. If a person is aware that there are programs that can help them pay utilities, child care, and purchase food, the emotional burden is lessened because they will not be as worried about going hungry or not having heat in their home. They would also be aware of programs such as Head Start, which would allow them to have a safe and educational place for their young children to be while they were searching for new employment.
Sources
http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/browse-by-state/state/KS
http://www.sek-cap.com/
research writing spring 2014 