As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Poverty
Do charter schools succeed by leaving poor behind?
A Florida state government report that claims charter schools “outpace” their public school counterparts has been criticized by a University of Central Florida finance professor, who notes that the proportion of poor children in charter schools is 45 percent, as compared with 55 percent in public schools. Once poverty is factored in, says Smith,... »
Poverty cripples Pine Ridge Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation epitomizes the failure of the reservation system and is home to some of the worst poverty in America. Census data shows that Pine Ridge has the lowest per capita income in the entire country. Up to two-thirds of adults may be alcoholics and one-quarter of children are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Tuberculosis... »
Bus tour humanizes poverty in North Carolina
A two-day “Truth and Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina” crosses western North Carolina by bus, with frequent stops to interview local residents about their experiences with poverty. The tour hopes to humanize poverty and encourage governmental and private assistance. The tour has attracted the attention of state and local officials as well... »
Maternal-Related Predictors of Self-Regulation Among Low-Income Youth
The association between self-regulation and various adaptive outcomes is a topic of growing interest, yet there is little research on predictors of self-regulation in children. This study examined whether maternal characteristics, namely the mother’s mental health, substance abuse, parenting practices, and child monitoring predicted self-regulation in children. Participants were a culturally diverse group of... »
Childhood Trauma and Adult Self-Reported Depression
This study addresses Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) within the context of self-reported depression among low-income ethnic minorities in urban settings. ACEs are plentiful in society, but their consequences are rarely addressed, particularly their impact on mental wellness. Findings highlight the importance of research on the prevalence of multiple types of childhood maltreatment, particularly in... »
Narrative Sensemaking and Time Lapse: Interviews with Low-Income Women about Sex Education
Secondary-school students in the United States score notoriously low on tests of their reproductive and sexual knowledge despite attempts by educators and legislators to provide them with informative sex-education courses. This study uses narrative theory to explore how low-income women perceived their formal sex-education experiences and how they connected those experiences to their sexual-health... »
Suicidal Behavior in a National Sample of Older Homeless Veterans
This study examines self-reported suicidal behavior of older homeless veterans to establish frequencies and predictors of recent suicidal behaviors, and their impact on transitional housing interventions. They found that approximately 12 percent of homeless veterans reported suicidal ideation before program admission, and 3 percent reported attempting suicide in the 30 days before admission. The... »
Comparing the Residential Origins of Homeless Families and Homeless Individuals in Miami-Dade County, Florida
This study compares the residential origins of homeless families with those of homeless individuals, and finds significant differences in their spatial distribution. The results clearly suggest that homeless individuals are more highly concentrated in neighborhoods of high poverty than homeless families. The study suggests the possibility that drift effects (how persons with mental disability... »
Alabama: Worst state for the poor?
Alabama is the harshest state when it comes to taxing the poor, finds a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alabama has the highest tax of any state for families living at the federal poverty line, and is one of only four that tax one-parent families of three that earn less... »
Poverty and Educational Achievement: The Limitations of Instruction-Focused Funding Strategies
The article evaluates a legislative proposal to amend the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to address academic deficiencies. It explains the factors that contribute to significant gaps in academic achievement, particularly household poverty and a lack of access to government financial support. The article discusses efforts by education leaders to develop school... »