Transcript Changing perceptions * changing behaviors

navigating a new normal
How the economy is changing
fathers, families, and future
expectations
Welcome
Ellie McCann
Jennifer Garbow
Rose Allen
www.extension.umn.edu
Jenny Nystrom
Paul Masiarchin
Joe Kelly
Melissa Froehle
Molly Crawford
www.mnfathers.org
Thanks to these supporters: Minnesota Initiative Foundations, Otto Bremer
Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and all of our regional hosts and panelists.
Today’s Agenda
9:30
10:00
10:50
11:00
11:30
11:45
12:15
12:45
1:50
2:00
2:30
3:00
Introductions & background
The current economy: Three conditions that
impact optimism
Stretch
Three conditions (continued)
Change & resilience
The economy’s impact on gender, family & health
Lunch
Local community panel
Stretch
The economy’s impact on children
The future
Thank you
Complete the Self Assessment
“Staying Resilient in Times of
Change?”
A New Normal
web resource links
www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
Where are we in economic history?
a new normal
How many times has the United States
experienced an economic downturn since
the Great Depression that began in 1929?
When did the current recession begin?
Source: Business Cycle Dating Committee at the National Bureau of Economic
Research (NBER)
Do you think the U.S. economy is
Still in a recession?
Starting to come out of a recession?
or
Do you think the recession is over?
Optimism’s many faces
Will your financial situation improve or get
worse over the next year?
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Improve
Get worse
Pew Research Center 2010
Discussion
What are some individual conditions that may
impact a person’s financial optimism?
Jobs
a new normal
How many of the following have you
experienced in the past 3 years?
- Work hours
reduced
- Pay cut
- Forced to take
unpaid leave
- Forced to switch
from full-time to
part-time
Two or
more,
20%
One, 22%
None,
58%
Pew Research Center 2010
How does job loss or a decrease in
income impact families?
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension, 2009
Minnesota’s unemployment disparities
White, 7.1
Latino, 15.5
African
American,
22.5
0
5
10
15
Source: Minnesota Public Radio, 2009 data.
20
25
Underemployment
Percent of part-time workers who would prefer
to work full-time
70
60
50
40
Minorities, 59
All
adults,
47 Whites,
41
Men, 60
Women,
38
HS or less,
Some 56
college,
44
College,
35
30
20
10
0
Pew Research Center 2010
Staying where you are…
Myth Busters
a new normal
Safety Net
1 in __ Americans gets government aid
in the form of a safety net.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Two
Four
Six
Eight
Public Assistance Programs
•
•
•
•
MFIP
Food Support
WIC
Child Care Assistance
Program
• Medical Assistance
• MinnesotaCare
Also, filing federal taxes/tax credits/exemptions
related to children/custody
Child Support Referrals
• Use of any of these programs results in automatic
referral to child support: MFIP, Child Care
Assistance Program, Medical Assistance and
MinnesotaCare
• Parents do have the option of “medical-only”
child support (if there is not other public
assistance)
• Child support is connected to gov’t programs and
databases when looking for people (absent
parent locator, e.g.) and money (new hire hits,
e.g.) but not required to interface with
immigration
How benefits & child support interact
• Parents must cooperate in
establishing paternity and
with child support efforts; can
be sanctioned if they do not
• Child support may be
counted as income in some
programs and reduce
benefits, e.g. MFIP (treated as
“unearned income”, reduce
dollar for dollar)
Resources
• Bridge to Benefits website
• Minnesota House Research Department,
Minnesota Family Assistance, A Guide to
Public Programs Providing Assistance to
Minnesota Families (December 2009)
• For clients: www.lawhelpmn.org (public
benefits section)
Details at
www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
Public benefits:
How are the
needs
changing for
families
including
fathers?
Quick Review of Paternity
• Married mother, (generally) husband’s name
goes on birth certificate
• Unmarried mother, no father’s name on birth
certificate until paternity is established
• Two ways in MN to establish paternity:
Recognition of Parentage
& Court (Paternity) Order
IMPORTANT
DISCLAIMERS
Cash Assistance – MFIP basics
• Cash portion and food portion
• Most families first diverted to Diversionary
Work Program
• 60-month time limit
• Required to develop an individualized
employment plan
MFIP - eligibility
• Income and asset test
• Household unit that
lives together
• Minor child or
pregnant woman in
household
• Additional rules apply
if parent is a minor
MFIP – two parents in the home
• If parents are married, both parents
income/assets counted.
• If parents are not married:
– Father should be reported if living there
– If paternity is established, income counts in
assistance unit
– If not, counts as part of shared household
standard
MFIP – parent relationship,
e.g. if father is applicant
• Relationship between child and applicant
caregiver
• Verification required
• For unmarried fathers, generally need
paternity established
• But one DHS Appeals Judge has ruled genetic
test results suffice
MFIP – single father applicant
For “noncustodial” parent applying: need order
showing custody or affidavit of both parents
specifies custody arrangement
MFIP – child presence
• In shared custody situations, it is not what the
court order says, but the actual facts of where
the child lives (except for temporary absence)
Application for MFIP results in referral to child support
agency.
The agency must pursue support.
What happens to MFIP grant if the noncustodial parent
pays child support?
1. MFIP stays the same
2. MFIP goes down 50¢ for every $1 paid
in child support
3. MFIP goes down $1 for every $1 paid in
child support
4. MFIP is cut-off
Tips for Supporting the Unemployed
Housing
a new normal
Housing facts in Minnesota
• In 2010, there will be a shortfall of 32,600
affordable housing units in Minnesota:
– 22,000 units in the Twin Cities
– 10,600 units in Greater Minnesota
• 23,000 Minnesota homes were foreclosed in 2009
• At least 9,200 people are homeless in Minnesota
each night; 28% of homeless adults are employed
Initiative Quarterly, March 2010
Minnesota’s Homeless 2009
Other
(includes
multiracial), 8
Hispanic (any
race), 7
American
Indian, 11
White (Non
Hispanic), 39
Wilder Research, 2010
Black, 41
Asian
American, 1
As rent goes up, income goes down
Nearly half of
renters in MN
pay more than
30% of their
income for
housing.
Housing instability impacts children
•
Loss of friends and changing a school
•
Children who did not have both biological parents
present and who moved frequently (8 or more
times in a lifetime) had poorer school
performance (Tucker, Max, & Long, 1998)
•
Family moves predicted increases in children’s
emotional and behavioral problems (Hoglund &
Leadbeater, 2004).
•
Early initiation of illicit drug use and drug-related
problems, especially among males (DeWit, 1998)
•
On the other hand, positive parenting
quality is strongly correlated to student
performance in school among homeless
and highly mobile children.
Most data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension, 2009
Tips for housing support
Check these resources:
• Local Housing & Redevelopment Authority
• Habitat for Humanity
• USDA Rural Development’s Direct Home Loan
Program
• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Read the Initiative Foundation’s March 2010 IQ magazine to learn more.
Linked at www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
Initiative Quarterly, March 2010
Break
Financial Issues
a new normal
Spending Habits
Since the recession began, are you spending:
100
6
80
30
60
40
62
More
Same
Less
20
0
Pew Research Center 2010
What are life’s necessities? (U.S.)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
88
2009
2006
54
52
50
49
47
31
21
8
4
Pew Research Center 2010
We are spending less
• Credit card balances are at their
lowest level in 8 years.
• The average balance in the U.S. is $4951 - this
is the first time it has dipped under $5000
since 2002.
• In Minnesota, we have the 11th lowest credit
card balances in the U.S. at $4586.
Frugality
How have our habits changed?
What does this mean for families
that already are low income?
Meeting Basic Needs
Costs for a Family of Four
with Two Workers
Minnesota Statewide Average—2009
Food
$690
Housing
$1023
Health Care
$569
Transportation
$739
Child Care
$945
Clothing and other necessities
$316
Net Taxes
$582
Monthly Total
$4,864
Annual Total
$58,368
Hourly wages needed - $14.03/hour each worker or a
total of $28.06/hour
Source: Jobs Now Coalition
The definition of poverty
2010 Federal Poverty Level
The working poor & the near poor
Unequal Impact on Families
In comparison to white families, Black families:
• Are more likely to suffer a job loss.
• Are more likely to experience long-term
unemployment.
• In general have fewer resources with which to buffer
the shock of job loss.
• Tend to have a higher percent of physical assets (e.g.
homes, automobiles), and fewer financial assets
(e.g. stocks), which would be more easily converted
into cash to meet emergencies.
Source: A visual essay: Blacks, Asians and Hispanics in the civilian labor force (2004);
Kalil, (2005)
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension, 2009
Tax Benefits & Parents Living Apart
Scenario:
Bobby’s parents don’t live together. They were
never married, but Bobby’s father pays child
support as part of a court order. Bobby’s father
wants to know if he can claim Bobby on his
taxes, since Bobby’s mom didn’t work very much
last year and he believes she won’t receive
much benefit from claiming Bobby. What can or
should Bobby’s father do?
Continued…
What should Bobby’s father do?
1. Consult a tax professional
2. Claim all that he can on his taxes for Bobby
3. Talk to Bobby’s mom and claim what she
allows him to claim on his taxes
4. Call the child support office
5. Claim the dependency exemption and the
Earned Income Tax Credit
6. None of the above
Why we’re covering this:
Additional Family Income
• Point: If parents can agree, they both might be
able to gain for making changes—where legally
possible—to who gets what tax benefits.
• Some tax benefits can be changed with mutual
agreement and proper forms filled out – some
cannot.
• Tax laws have changed, and do change. Send
clients to a tax professional, such as
AccountAbility Minnesota.
35,000 foot overview – Federal only
• Only one custodial parent for tax purposes
• Only the custodial parent can claim:
– Head of household filing status
– Child and dependent care credit
– Earned income credit
• Custodial parent is entitled to
the following, but can give them
to noncustodial parent
– The dependency exemption
– Child tax credit
– Additional child tax credit
Resources
• Booklet: Tax Credit Primer for Social Service
Providers, 2009
• Fact Sheet: Can I Claim a Child on My Tax
Return? (lawhelpmn.org)
• Free Tax Help for Low-Income People:
AccountAbility Minnesota
Details at
www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
A new normal means
change
Staying Resilient in times of Change
Sharon M. Danes, PhD Professor
University of Minnesota
Family Social Science
Department
612-625-9273
[email protected]
Getting Through Tough Times
Fact Sheets
This series of 17 fact sheets covers five content
areas for people experiencing trauma.
• Getting help
• Financial decisions with less
• Dealing with stress
• Figuring out how to do more with less
• Children and tough times
Find the link at www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
Gender & the Economy
a new normal
A woman’s economy?
The rise of wives
2007
22% of
husbands earn
less than their
wives
1970
4% of husbands
earn less than
their wives
Share of husbands
whose wives’ income
tops theirs
How are men faring?
Of the 11 million jobs lost
since 2007 men lost 2/3
of them.
According to Obama’s chief
economic advisor, Larry Summers,
“When the economy
recovers, five years from
now, one in six men who
are 25 to 54 will not be
working.”
Changing Attitudes – Drop in support for
traditional gender roles (among those
who are working)
100%
90%
80%
70%
74%
60%
50%
40%
30%
42%
52%
39%
20%
10%
0%
1977
2008
Families and Work Institute, 2008 National Study of the Changing Workforce
Men
Women
Hours per day spent with child under
age 13, on work days
5
4.5
4
3.5
All Mothers,
3.8
3
All Fathers,
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
All Mothers,
3.8
All Fathers,
2
0.5
0
1977
2008
Families and Work Institute, 2008 National Study of the Changing Workforce
Work-Life Conflict
More than half of all fathers (in both dual
income and single income homes) reported
work-family interference.
However, men who
participate in housework
create benefits for
themselves, their wives,
and their kids.
Unconventional Wisdom, Issue 1
How is the economy
impacting gender
roles?
For men?
For women?
Family Relationships
a new normal
Marriage is declining
Finances impact couples’ relationships
Economic pressure creates depression in the partner of the
unemployed, thus decreasing the partner’s ability to provide
support (Vinokur, Price, & Caplan,1996)
Stress after job loss (relocation, increased debt) increases
depressive symptoms in both spouses, which in turn negatively
affects the quality of their relationship
(Howe, Lockshin, Levy, & Caplan, 2004)
Divorce?
Some studies indicate a link between
unemployment and a likelihood of divorce
(Ström, 2003)
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension, 2009
Life Interrupted
Percent of each group who say they did the following because of the
recession…
5
Postponed getting married
21
6
24
Postponed having a baby
3
3
6
Moved back in with parents
11
25-34
2
2
2
Took in a boarder
Pew Research Center 2010
18-24
1
0
35+
10
20
30
Multigenerational Households Grow
30
25
24.7
20
16.1
15
15
15.1
10
12.1
5
0
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Pew Research Center 2010
Empty Nest Undone
• Unemployment rate for 20-24 year olds around 15%
• Average student with college loans owes $23,000 in
debt
• 41% of parents support their 23-28 year old kids
• Average support is 10% of parent’s income
• 10% of 18-34 year-olds moved back into parents’ home
during this recession
Parade.com July 18, 2010
What is one opportunity and one
challenge experienced by multigenerational homes?
What does the “New Normal” mean to
you and your community?
Lunch
Health & Mental Health
a new normal
Unemployment & Mental Health
Based on Family Role
Are employed or unemployed individuals more likely to have poor mental health?
Employed
Single
Women
Men
Married
Women
Men
Divorced /
Separated
Source: American Journal of Public Health, 2004
Women
Men
Unemployed
How does job loss impact
mental health?
Long term unemployment impacts
mental health
Suicide and Economic Strain
Economic strain & personal financial crises
- Unemployment
- Home foreclosures
- Relationship struggles (often caused by finances)
Can lead to suicide
US suicide rates: 4 men to every 1 woman
- Male socialization (higher aggression, risk-taking)
- Men are more reluctant to seek help, social support
Source: www.suicidology.org
Medical Assistance
• Provides health care coverage, no premiums,
may be some small co-pays
• Must have a child or be pregnant (or be blind,
elderly or disabled)
• Individual eligibility
(not household unit)
• Income and assets
test
MA – parent relationship
• For unmarried, father does not have
parent/caretaker basis of eligibility (on a
parental basis) until paternity is established
MA – child presence
• Child cannot be counted in two households in
the same month
• Child or eligible person must be present in the
household for a full calendar month to be
included, but temporary absence ok
• If child alternates homes, household is where
child spends most of the time
• If equal amount of time, where child lives at
date of application
MinnesotaCare
• Health care for low-income families who
cannot get affordable insurance through job
or elsewhere
• Children must be in the household at least
50% of time to receive MinnesotaCare
• When custody alternates between parents,
the child can be counted in the household of
each parent but only enrolled in one
household
MinnesotaCare
Role of noncustodial
parent’s insurance
If an applicant for MinnesotaCare
is aware the noncustodial parent
has insurance in place for the
child, they must report that and
the child will not be eligible.
If no insurance is in place,
applicant will be asked if he/she
has insurance available through
his/her employer or union.
What about the children?
a new normal
Finances impact parenting
Low and unstable income is associated with:
• punitive parenting practices
• low nurturant-involved parenting; less responsive parenting
• lower efficacy in disciplining children
These parenting challenges, in turn, are associated with:
• child’s lower cognitive performance
• more behavior problems; child’s reduced social competence
• lower child positive adjustment
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension, 2009.
Sources: Yeung, Linver, Brooks-Gunn, 2002. Conger et al., 2002. Mistry, Vandewater, Huston, & McLoyd, 2002.
Parental employment impacts kids’ work
attitudes and school achievement
Poverty Impacts Parent & Child Roles
In chronic poverty situations, children
may take on some of the parenting
roles that are not developmentally
appropriate
(Burton, 2007).
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of
Minnesota Extension, 2009
Strengths in Poor Families
• Families in poverty more likely to eat meals
together (protective factor)
• Just as likely as affluent families to report:
- feel close with their kids
- children attend a religious service
once+ a week
- children feel safe in their homes
Child Trends, May 2009 Research Brief
Child Care Assistance Program - CCAP
• Subsidies for child care during work, job
search or education related activities
• Child care costs for children under 13, or if
disabled and under age 15
• Subsidy can apply to a
licensed or
unlicensed provider
CCAP - eligibility
• Household eligibility includes all parents,
stepparents, legal guardians or eligible relative
caregivers who live in the home, and their
spouses and blood-related dependent
children and adoptive siblings
• If parents live together, both parents must
meet employment, education and training
requirements or be deemed unable to care for
the child
Child Care Assistance Program
Can two parents receive CCAP for the
same child?
1. Yes
2. No
CCAP
• Must verify the relationship of the child to the
applicant (same rules as MFIP)
• Must verify the presence of the child in the
home if questionable
Finances impact children’s nutrition
15% of American households were food insecure
in 2008.
This is the highest
recorded level of
food insecurity.
Food insecurity among
children may lead to:
• Health problems
• Behavior problems
• Poor academic
performance
• Obesity
Data compiled by NDSU Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension,
2009
Food Support
Can a single dad, living alone with his
child, without a custody order, get Food
Support for himself and the child?
1. Yes
2. No
SNAP: Food support in
Minnesota
Eligibility: 130% of poverty
(increases to 165% 11-1-10)
Participation: 54% of eligible
households
Average grant: $212/month
During 2009:
• Participation increased 30%
• 58% of families were working
• Average time on SNAP: 36 mos.
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Service
Food Support
• EBT Card - Used to buy food or plants and
seeds to grow food; in some places can use it
at Farmer’s Market
• Income and asset test
• Household is people
who live together and
buy and prepare food
together
Food Support
• No requirement to verify relationship of child
to caregivers
• Child can only have
one residence
• Does not result in
child support
referral
WIC
Can fathers receive WIC benefits for
their children?
1. Yes
2. No
WIC
• Provides nutrition education and food
vouchers for approved foods
• For pregnant women or children under 5
• Eligibility based on number of household
members
• Also must have a “medical or nutrition need”
• Verification of parent-child relationship not
required
Nutrition Resources
Minnesota Food HelpLine
888-711-1151
Community Action Agencies
Bridge to Benefits
www.bridgetobenefits.org
SNAP-Ed
Nutrition education for Food Support-eligible
clients
University of Minnesota Extension
www.extension.umn.edu/Nutrition/contact.html
612-625-7070
What is one
strategy parents
can use to teach
resilience in times
of change?
What will the future bring?
a new normal
Happiness…
How much money do you
need?
a new normal
How are these terms similar?
Staycation
Food Stamps
Groupons
Small plates
Redbox
Pedicure
Unemployment benefits
Higher income is strongly correlated with how
people evaluate their lives,
but only moderately with day-to-day positive
feelings
Social Capital
Mastery
Having others you can count on
Respect
Learning new things
Using your abilities
Lower income exacerbated the emotional
pain associated with poor health, divorce
and being alone.
Gallup survey of 136,000 people in 132 nations, 2010
Money is like manure;
it’s not worth a thing
unless it’s spread around
encouraging young
things to grow.
Thornton Wilder from
“The Matchmaker”
Final Assessment
a new normal
REFLECTION
Share one tip, resource, strategy
or piece of information from
today’s presentation
that you will use.
navigating a new normal
www.mnfathers.org/newnormal.html
Evaluation: www.mnfathers.org/newnormalEVAL.html