M2 Discussion: Response

(Please use course material for the main sources) Course Reading: Cultural Diversity: A Primer for the Human Services by Diller, Jerry V. 6th Edition Module Video: Frontline Documentary Growing up Poor ( 2020 video, 54 minutes in length, captioned) Please respond to both classmates posts. 1. Brian Wrona posted: The PBS documentary Growing Up Poor took us into the lives of three families navigating through Covid. The documentary touched on a lot of areas of diversity including race, disabilities, homelessness, poverty, and gender. The one thing that all of these families had in common was they were single mother families that are poor. Some of these areas of diversity are impeding both the children and mothers from fully integrating into their communities. The first example is health and disabilities. One mother has a kidney disease, and her doctor doesn't want her working. She is receiving disability and other benefits but has to still work a small number of hours against her doctors wishes. This is preventing her from being able to get a full-time job and support her family financially like she wants to. Laikyen is diagnosed with ADHD and is struggling with homeschooling because of Covid. She doesn't have the support that she would normally get from the school and is falling behind in her work and may have to be held back another year in school. All three families are living in poverty and when they are able to get a little bit of money, they need to decide what to spend it on because they can't afford all of their bills. They are doing whatever they can to survive but the lack of money is keeping them from thriving because they can't dig out of the hole they are currently in. One family is homeless and is relying on friends to help by letting them use a single room in their house for the three of them. Another lives in a small trailer and one of the kids is staying with other family members because of the lack of space in the trailer they can afford. All of these families need to rely on outside help to put food on the table like using food stamps and going to the food pantry. I believe that oppression is used to keep people from stability. The oppressors like to feed on diversity and try to use differences to keep people from ever gaining stability. Oppressors prevent diverse people from gaining opportunities that the oppressors used to get themselves into a place of power. Not having stability puts people in survival mode and makes it harder for them to thrive in life. In the long term I think poverty will have lasting effects these children. Not being able to afford proper medical care is forcing these families to live with medical issues rather than get them fixed which could lead to long term medical issues. Struggling to be able to afford food could lead to malnutrition and cause even more medical issues along with issues focusing. These children may think that they can't go to college or better their education because they don't have the money to pay for it. I think a positive lasting effect these children will gain is perseverance. They have watched their mothers keep pushing along to try and provide a better life for their kids no matter how hard it has become. Reference: FRONTLINE | Growing Up Poor in America | Season 2020 | Episode 18. (2020, September 8). Www(dot)pbs(dot)org. https://Www(dot)pbs(dot)org/video/growing-up-poor-in-america-z4g8k5/ 2. Karima Wilson posted: In the video titled, Growing Up Poor in America follows the lives of 3 children (Shawn 13, Kyah 14, and Laikyen 12) and their families from diverse racial backgrounds living in poverty in different communities in Ohio at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. To survive homelessness, school closings, racism, and unemployment, these families must overcome the challenges they face. Shawn and Kayah are children of African American decent. The importance of justice and equal rights for black americans was instilled in them. Shawn took on the role of a father figure to his younger sister. Due to her physical health, his mother had to work in order to maintain her benefits and provide for her family. He was dealing with anxiety, grief, and racism. Despite being homeless, Kayah's family did not behave like it. Being homeless caused her to be stressed. In an effort to impact change in America, Kayah's older sister registered to vote. Laikyen's ADHD made it difficult for her to complete her schoolwork. She was unmedicated and had trouble concentrating. Her mother is not able to maintain financial security and lives paycheck-to-paycheck. Laikyen's older sister strives to be the first generation to attend college. The children grew up in a home with just one parent. I think that racism, homelessness, and poverty in America still require attention. Individuals are finding it difficult to support their families. The cost of living is not equivalent to salary pay. Homelessness and poverty are not a lifestyle choices made by anyone. Poverty can impact individuals from all social and racial backgrounds. Resources such as health care, mental health, and social services to help those living in poverty are minimal. These kids can succeed in escaping poverty, in my opinion, if they continue to stay motivated. They appear determined about wanting a better life for themselves. Children can thrive and be the ones to survive the pandemic if they have the support of their parents, teachers, and other qualified professionals. References: FRONTLINE | Growing Up Poor in America | Season 2020 | Episode 18. (2020, September 8). Www(dot)pbs(dot)org. https://Www(dot)pbs(dot)org/video/growing-up-poor-in-america-z4g8k5/