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5/ accessHealthnews.net Winter 2014 Poverty's Stronghold Families talk candidly about hard times For many people, talk about a recovering economy is just that – talk. About 8 percent of Lafayette County families live in poverty and 7.2 percent of seniors. Just over 30 percent of school-aged children are eligible for free lunches. The average annual wage for Lafayette County is $26,783, compared with a statewide average of $40,024. Lafayette County's unemployment rate is just under 11 percent. Missouri Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA), a nonprofit whose mission is to eradicate poverty, works with individuals and families in need. MVCAA leads a program called New Directions, that meets once a month, to offer a hand up by creating a support network, connecting people with community resources and providing educational programs. Specifically, the program connects participants with GED programs. Families who attend the meetings also learn how to mentor new members, give back to their communities and leverage their own talents to help others. New Directions encourages impoverished families to develop leadership and self-advocacy skills by attending city and community meetings, among other things. In Higginsville, the program serves nine families that include 16 participants who collectively have 23 children. In Lexington, there are six families, 11 participants and 14 children. Higginsville and Lexington meet the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, respectively, at 5:30 p.m. Child care and dinner are provided. Those who attend these meetings are frank about their day-to-day struggles. One participant, a single mom, drew a picture, literally, of what it's like for her and her two kids. She brings home $1,400 per month, but her monthly bills are more than what she makes. She receives $200 a month in food stamps to feed herself and two kids, and Section 8 pays half of her rent. Even with support from social services and a full-time job, where she earns $10.50 per hour, she can't make ends meet. Another participant writes that their children sometimes go without food. In Lafayette County, about 20 percent of children live in households that experience food insecurity, according to the 2011 Census . Overall, almost 12 percent of the county's children live in poverty. "I will go hungry before my kids do," another participant writes. "How you were raised is all you know. I am hopeless, with no faith. I feel like no one cares." Abra Ward, the program's community outreach specialist, said "if you tell them that they can just 'pull themselves up from the bootstraps,' they'll say, 'what bootstraps?' For these families, just getting through a day is tough. The barriers are just about everywhere. Those who are eligible to receive social services jump through many hoops just to find relief. And ofttimes, what they receive is not enough to get them through a month." Melanie Corporon, MVCAA's director of community development, stresses that families in poverty need a lot of support. "It's a tough battle to get out of poverty," she said. "Often, families that live in poverty are isolated from the communities where they live. Their support systems sometimes merely support their lifestyles now, not any positive changes they may wish to make." As for positive change, Ward said that is what New Directions is about. "We take the time to earn their trust and build relationships," she said. "That's what keeps them going…They know we will keep them going and guide them along the way." Ward said New Directions will soon be calling on area businesses to get involved. "I think if more people could hear their stories and volunteer their time and talents, we could make an even greater impact." New Directions is funded by a Community Service Block Grant and partners from various community organizations, including the Healthcare Collaboration of Rural Missouri, Pathways, Triality Inc. and Baby Grace. Members of the community are invited to volunteer as mentors for program participants. "We can't do it alone," Corporon said. "The community has to own it." Community volunteers serve as program mentors by teaching participants how to create grocery lists, budget, prepare healthy meals, as well as other life skills. To learn more about New Directions, to volunteer, or donate, contact Abra Ward at 660.886.7476. By Tonia Wright " …if you tell them that they can just 'pull themselves up from the bootstraps,' they'll say, 'what bootstraps?' For these families, just getting through a day is tough." Abra Ward, MVCAA Community Outreach Specialist (Single mom illustrates household finances.)

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