On Nov. 9, TEAM, Inc. and the Valley Council for Health & Human Services will host a Community Conversation to raise awareness about the impact of economic hardship on Valley children and to engage community members in the search for solutions to this growing problem.
New information from the U.S. Census American Community Survey shows an alarming increase in the number of children living in poverty in Connecticut, even preceding the unemployment rate increases seen in 2009.
In 2008, about 1 in every 4 (25.6 percent) Connecticut children lived in families with incomes under 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is close to the state’s measure of the income needed by a family to meet its basic needs.
Richard Knoll, TEAM, CEO/President states, “Research shows that, on average families need an income of about twice the federal poverty level to cover basic expenses. Most of the children living in poverty have parents who work, but low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet.
He further states, “Poverty can impede a child’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional and behavioral problems and can also contribute to poor health and mental health. Risks are the greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or in deep persistent poverty”.
Following a presentation by TEAM staff members about the impact of poverty on Valley children, Elaine Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Children, will share information about the State’s efforts to address child poverty.
In 2004, Connecticut became the first state in the country to establish a goal of reducing the child poverty rate by 50 percent by 2014.
In addition to sharing information about the significant impact of economic hardship on children in the region, the Community Conversation aims to provide an opportunity for community residents and service providers to share ideas about how to address this problem in the Valley. TEAM and the Valley Council invite anyone interested in the well-being of Valley children to participate.
The Community Conversation on Children & Poverty in the Valley: Raising Awareness, Searching for Solutions will be held on November 9 from 5:00-7:30 pm at John J. Sullivan’s Restaurant, 557 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia, CT.
Dinner will be served and limited childcare will be available with advanced registration. The event is made possible by a grant from the Valley Neighborhood Small Grant Program of the Valley Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven.
To register for this free event, please contact Silvia Paytas at TEAM, Inc. by telephone (203-736-5420 ext. 202) or e-mail (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).