South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs

The Culture of Poverty The Culture of Poverty presented bypresented by

Sheila Albergottie MSW, Project Coordinator Sheila Albergottie MSW, Project Coordinator African American Affairs African American Affairs

July 8, 2009July 8, 2009 www.state.sc.us/cmawww.state.sc.us/cma

CMA

Training Objectives

Give an overview of the Commission for Minority Affairs

Review poverty definitions / data and discuss the status of poverty in South Carolina

Identify some specific issues to consider when working with persons in poverty

3

SC Commission for Minority Affairs Mission

Serve as a think-tank to improve the plight of minorities

Serve as the catalyst to bring about public policy changes

Single point of contact for assistance and referral Serve as a clearinghouse for minority information

4

Historical Overview

Created in 1993 – Governor Carroll Campbell Non-Cabinet Agency Primary focus was African Americans 2001 – Ad hoc committee for Hispanic persons 2003 – added Hispanic / Latino Affairs and

Native American Affairs

5

Minority Affairs Commission

Alleviate poverty and deprivation Determine contributing factors to poverty Serve as the single point of contact for minority

populations – African Americans– Hispanics/Latinos– Native Americans– Other ethnic races

6

Contributing Factors to Poverty

Family Destruction and Weakness Education Deprivation Lack of Jobs – Under and Unemployment Lack of Community/Economic Development Lack of Income and Wealth Creation Lack of Minority Businesses/Venture Capital Health Status and Care - Disparities Disproportionate Representation - Criminal

Justice System

Poverty Status of Minorities

The SC Commission for Minority Affairs

Minority Issues Conference

June 11, 2007

Race, Poverty and a State of Mind

www.state.sc.us/cma

Dr. Ruby Payne

aha! Process, Inc.

www.ahaprocess.com

aha! Process Productswww.ahaprocess.com

Poverty Overview

Poverty Defined Culture of PovertyGenerational Poverty Situational Poverty

Poverty Defined

Poverty is relative Based on geographic location Census Bureau - finances

Poverty Geographically

The Historic Black Belt's Conditions remain some of the worst in our nation. The Black Belt is still home to persistent poverty, poor employment, low incomes, low education, poor health, high infant mortality and dependance.

.

The State of Poverty in South Carolina

http://ers.usda.gov/Data/PovertyRates/PovListpct.asp?Longname=SouthCarolina is the online source for this map

Culture of Poverty

The culture of poverty concept is a social theory explaining the cycle of poverty. Based on the concept that the poor have a unique value system, the culture of poverty theory suggests the poor remain in poverty because of their adaptations to the burdens of poverty. Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Poverty

Generational vs. Situational

Generational poverty: families who have lived in poverty for at least two generations.

Situational Poverty: families that have fallen into poverty because of a traumatic event such as illness or divorce, unemployment, etc.

Dr. Ruby Payne

Counties above the National Poverty Level

County % County % County % County %

Abbeville 17.4 Aiken 15.4 Allendale 36.8 Bamberg 27.4

Barnwell 21.8 Calhoun 17.4 Charleston 15.2 Cherokee 16.8

Chester 20.1 Chesterfield 21 Clarendon 23.7 Colleton 21.7

Darlington 18.7 Dillon 27.7 Edgefield 18.7 Fairfield 17.8

Florence 17.8 Georgetown 17.7 Hampton 21.3 Jasper 20.8

Lancaster 17.9 Laurens 20.2 Lee 26.2 McCormick 19.6

Marion 24.3 Marlboro 26 Newberry 16.7 Orangeburg 23.2

Pickens 16.4 Saluda 16.8 Sumter 18.5 Union 17.7

Williamsburg 36.3

Source: Online http://ers.usda.gov/Data/PovertyRates/PovListpct.asp?Longname=SouthCarolina and http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45000.html

Counties that exceed the state and national poverty rates

County Poverty% White %

State %

Black %

State % Median Household income

SC Household income

Allendale 36.8 28.4 68.6 70.8 28.7 $25,417 $43,508

Dillon 27.7 50.4 68.6 45.9 28.7 $28,979 $43,508

Lee 26.2 37.0 68.6 62.0 28.7 $30,448 $43,508

Williamsburg 36.3 31.8 68.6 67.0 28.7 $26,745 $43,508

Source: Online http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45000.html

Activity

How We View Others Deficit Deviant Different Other

Dr. Linda Webb Watson

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Hidden Rules

One of the key resources for success in

school and at work is an understanding of

the hidden rules. Hidden rules are the

unspoken clues that individuals use to

indicate membership in a group.

Intervention Issues

• Be prepared • How you approach others matters • Communication styles• Relationships

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Additive Model Honors internal assets of

people from all economic classes

Names problems accurately

Identifies the mindsets and patterns that individuals use to survive

Identifies strengths and resources in the individual, family, school and community

Offers economic diversity as a prism through which individuals and schools can analyze and respond

Identifies skills, theories of change, program designs, partnerships and ways of building school where students achieve

Encourage the development of strategies to respond to all causes of poverty

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Behaviors Related to Poverty LAUGHING

INAPPROPRIATE OR VULGAR COMMENTS

PHYSICALLY FIGHT HANDS ALWAYS ON

SOMEONE ELSE

CANNOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

EXTREMELY DISORGANIZED

COMPLETE ONLY PART OF A TASK

DISRESPECTFUL TO TEACHERS

HARM OTHER STUDENTS, VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY

A Framework for Understanding Poverty Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

Key Points to Remember1. Poverty is relative.2. Poverty occurs in all races and in

all countries3. Economic class is a continuous

line, not a clear-cut distinction.4. Generational poverty and

situational poverty are different.5. This information and work is

based on patterns. All patterns have exceptions

6. An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of the class in which he/she was raised.

7. Schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden rules of middle class.

8 For our students to be successful, we must understand their hidden rules and teach them the rules that will make them successful at school and at work.

9. We can neither excuse students nor scold them for not knowing; as educators we must teach them and provide support, insistence, and expectations.

10. To move from poverty to middle class or middle class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships for achievement (at least for some period of time).

11. Two things that help one move out of poverty are education and relationships.

12. Four reasons one leaves poverty are: It’s too painful to stay, a vision or goal, a key relationship, or a special talent or skill.

Key Points (cont.)

Resources -To better understand students and adults from poverty, the definition of poverty will be the "extent to which an individual does without resources" including:

Financial--Having the money to purchase goods and services.

Emotional--Being able to choose and control emotional responses, particularly to negative situations, without engaging in self-destructive behavior. This is an internal resource and shows itself through stamina, perseverance and choices.

Mental--Having the mental abilities and acquired skills (reading, writing, computing) to deal with daily life.

Physical--Having physical health and mobility.

Support Systems--Having friends, family, backup resources and knowledge

bases available to access in times of need. These are external resources.

Role Models--Having frequent access to appropriate adults who are nurturing

to the child and who do not engage in self-destructive behavior.

Knowledge of Hidden Rules--Knowing the unspoken cues and habits of a group.

African American Affairs Institute

Our Vision We envision that African Americans

in South Carolina will realize

optimum quality of life.

Our MissionOur mission is to build infrastructure and create

institutions within the African American community and influence existing systems aimed at overcoming the effects of deprivation, poverty

and discrimination.

The Cradle to Prison Pipeline ® Campaign Summit

October 9 – 10th, 2009 Columbia, SC

The Children’s Defense Fund’s Cradle

to Prison Pipeline® Campaign is a

national call to action to stop the

funneling of tens of thousands of

youth, predominantly minorities, down

life paths that often lead to arrest,

conviction, incarceration, and in some

cases, death. Race and poverty are

the major factors underpinning the

Pipeline. The problems, policies and

systems that feed the pipeline are a

result of human choices.

Video

People Like Us:

Social Class in America

http://www.pbs/peoplelikeus

S. C. Commission for Minority AffairsAfrican American Affairs

Questions