I have been working now for almost five months as a social worker with Children's Hospital--doing home visits through a prenatal through age three parent support and abuse prevention program. And yes, I often get asked what I do. Oh and yes, I often get told that "it must be nice to make your own schedule". Oh and yes, I do often get told LOTS of things about what people expect my clientele to be like.
It has been hard for me to internally balance what I see every single day through my job and what the media, pop culture, and even history have taught the public (and my friends and family) about who I am likely serving. Not to mention, our highly divided country is becoming more and more difficult to navigate as my job requires me to help my families navigate the process of seeking assistance, enrolling in federal programs, and helping them understand that the lies the media and news speak of those who get assistance ARE NOT true.
There- I said it- the way the news portrays my food stamps receiving, Medicaid getting, WIC assisted families is ABSURD, INACCURATE, HURTFUL, and SHAMING.
And these are some reasons why:
- Welfare Fraud is the main reason most people have negative views of welfare. Why do you hear about welfare fraud? Because it is good news to report to taxpaying viewers that their money is being wasted when one woman, for example, is claiming 38 children (who do not exist) getting benefits for all of them (this did happen). It is also good news when women (recently in columbus) were selling WIC formula for cash. (ask why sh
e did that? well she did that because she had extra left over and she thought it would be a good way to get cash for a beamer. Oh just kidding--to have cash to pay utilities).
I am not applauding welfare fraud at all. But the cases are few and far between the REAL benefactors of these programs (1.5-2.5% of cases). The media can easily sell these stories because it helps the public continue to stigmatize and shame the users of these programs.
- Do you realize that even WITH benefits, most of the families I work with do not have beds to sleep on, do not have secured housing, do not have money left over for the momma and poppa by the end of the month, and often times do not have enough clothing for any of the family members. My families are constantly having to rely on places that give out donations (did you know food pantries provide often expired food). Just because a family is getting assistance does NOT mean they are living well.
- Medicaid is "free" medical coverage for women, children, families who fall below 100-200% of the federal poverty level (changes based on who you are and where you live). Well, folks, if I were to get pregnant in the state of Ohio before I am married--my salary would qualify me for Medicaid. Would I apply? HELL YES. Why? Because it would guarantee me and fake baby the best of healthcare. With my salary alone could I still get that with the Health coverage I have? Possibly, but mostly because I have a good fake baby daddy. Alone I would not in any way. Here's my point-- The benefits are available and it makes sense to use them-- they are designed to help families temporarily, and designed to make sure babies have the best start they can possibly get.
- Something to remember is that while the programs are helpful, it can be nearly impossible to get out of the cycle of needing assistance. Why? Because the income levels are set so low that if you are even making minimum wage full time, your benefits will be stopped, likely including your childcare (title XX) benefits--making it impossible to still work and make that little. You cannot raise a kid and pay all of your bills on that little with no assistance.
The families I work for represent the greater whole-- almost 40 million Americans recieve some type of assistance from the government. And we as a country SHAME that to no end. We make it seem like families are CHOOSING this life, and we also make it appear to be an enjoyable thing. What is disgusting to me is what this really means for us as a whole: We shake our heads in disgust at the thought of helping other people-- children, moms and dads. How awful is it that we as a nation do not want to take care of the people who are our next door neig
hbors, your kids peers, or the people sitting in the pew behind you. We as a nation LAUGH at a president who has tried VERY hard to ensure these benefits for these families. What does that make us as people?
I always get told the "bootstraps" quote when I open this conversation--people just need to find a way to make things work. But when babies are born into poverty, do not complete middle school (let alone high school or college), and may not even be able to read. Tell me, how are they supposed to make things work without a little help? Oh so they shouldn't have kids? Well tell me, how the HELL are they supposed to learn about birth control if we keep it so god damn hush hush and keep shutting down our Planned Parenthoods and non-profit health centers.
You can choose to belief what you would like. But take a moment to think about what type of person you WANT to be. What values do you WANT to convey to those around you?
There- I said it- the way the news portrays my food stamps receiving, Medicaid getting, WIC assisted families is ABSURD, INACCURATE, HURTFUL, and SHAMING.
And these are some reasons why:
- Welfare Fraud is the main reason most people have negative views of welfare. Why do you hear about welfare fraud? Because it is good news to report to taxpaying viewers that their money is being wasted when one woman, for example, is claiming 38 children (who do not exist) getting benefits for all of them (this did happen). It is also good news when women (recently in columbus) were selling WIC formula for cash. (ask why sh
e did that? well she did that because she had extra left over and she thought it would be a good way to get cash for a beamer. Oh just kidding--to have cash to pay utilities).
I am not applauding welfare fraud at all. But the cases are few and far between the REAL benefactors of these programs (1.5-2.5% of cases). The media can easily sell these stories because it helps the public continue to stigmatize and shame the users of these programs.
- Do you realize that even WITH benefits, most of the families I work with do not have beds to sleep on, do not have secured housing, do not have money left over for the momma and poppa by the end of the month, and often times do not have enough clothing for any of the family members. My families are constantly having to rely on places that give out donations (did you know food pantries provide often expired food). Just because a family is getting assistance does NOT mean they are living well.
- Something to remember is that while the programs are helpful, it can be nearly impossible to get out of the cycle of needing assistance. Why? Because the income levels are set so low that if you are even making minimum wage full time, your benefits will be stopped, likely including your childcare (title XX) benefits--making it impossible to still work and make that little. You cannot raise a kid and pay all of your bills on that little with no assistance.
The families I work for represent the greater whole-- almost 40 million Americans recieve some type of assistance from the government. And we as a country SHAME that to no end. We make it seem like families are CHOOSING this life, and we also make it appear to be an enjoyable thing. What is disgusting to me is what this really means for us as a whole: We shake our heads in disgust at the thought of helping other people-- children, moms and dads. How awful is it that we as a nation do not want to take care of the people who are our next door neig
hbors, your kids peers, or the people sitting in the pew behind you. We as a nation LAUGH at a president who has tried VERY hard to ensure these benefits for these families. What does that make us as people?
I always get told the "bootstraps" quote when I open this conversation--people just need to find a way to make things work. But when babies are born into poverty, do not complete middle school (let alone high school or college), and may not even be able to read. Tell me, how are they supposed to make things work without a little help? Oh so they shouldn't have kids? Well tell me, how the HELL are they supposed to learn about birth control if we keep it so god damn hush hush and keep shutting down our Planned Parenthoods and non-profit health centers.
You can choose to belief what you would like. But take a moment to think about what type of person you WANT to be. What values do you WANT to convey to those around you?
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