Post on 21-Dec-2015
MOVING FAMILIES TOWARD ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCEEmily Feinberg, ScD, CPNP
Sara Donahue, MPH, DrPH(c)
Instructional Innovation Conference
March 25, 2011
OVERVIEW Innovation purpose Moving Families Toward Economic
Independence exercise Application to other courses Questions
INNOVATION PURPOSE
CONTEXT Course: Women, Children and Adolescents:
Public Health Approaches Class session: Poverty and Family Self-
Sufficiency: Understanding Social Indicators Need: Younger students may lack experience
in examining social indicators or an understanding of poverty/low income status
POVERTY INDICATORS Poverty thresholds
Indicator of overall economic well-being Determine eligibility for public programs
Family/individual level Community/school district level
Federal Poverty Level (FPL) used as eligibility criteria for numerous programs serving the maternal and child health population
Economic Independence Index (EII): alternate measure describing income adequacy and economic self-sufficiency
INNOVATION: MOVING FAMILIES TOWARD ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE EXERCISE In-class computer simulation exercise Objectives
Improve understanding of a major social indicator, the federal poverty measure, and its application
Recognize the relationship between poverty levels and a family’s ability to meet basic needs
Evaluate the impact of participation in public programs in families’ efforts to attain income independence
MOVING FAMILIES TOWARD ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE EXERCISE
BACKGROUND
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
How much income is needed for a family of a certain composition in a given place to adequately meet their basic needs-without public or private assistance
Personal & Household Needs; 8%
Child Care; 31%
Trans-portation,
4%
Food; 11%
Utilities; 4%
Housing; 18%
Taxes (net); 16%
Health care; 8%
Breakdown of Economic Independence Index 2010, Single parent with Preschooler and
School-Age Child, Massachusetts
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL VS. ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE INDEX
$22,050 $67,74
9
Federal poverty line for a family of 4
Real costs for family of 4 living in Boston
EXERCISE COMPONENTS
FAMILY ASSIGNMENT AND ACTIVITY STRUCTURE In-class computer exercise, students work in pairs or
groups of 3 Each group is assigned a unique family structure
One or two parents and two children of varying ages Hourly wage of $8, $11, or $18 Health insurance status: private paying 30% of premium,
private paying 50% of premium, uninsured Students can determine other characteristics of their
family Materials:
Students use personal computers to complete calculations and access websites
Students are given a packet of materials with website links and program eligibility guidelines
ACTIVITY 1: CALCULATE EII Goal: Understand the relationship between
the Economic Independence Index and the FPL
Output For an example family of three:
1. Current income if earning $11/hour: $23,2322. Income if self-sufficient: $65,238 (36% EII)3. FPL: $18,310 (127% FPL)4. Difference between current income and income
required to be economically self-sufficient: $42,006
ACTIVITY 2: DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE STRATEGY Goal: develop a strategy to help the family
move toward economic independence Key assumptions
All programs accessible Health insurance and tax liability requirements Childcare needs
Steps and considerations Use family characteristics and program websites
to select a strategy; document approach Struggle with balancing family needs with
realities of public program restrictions
EXERCISE 3: EVALUATE APPROACH Assess impact of strategy on hourly wage
needed to be self-sufficient Evaluate economic independence Consider feasibility of approach in current
environment
DEBRIEFING Students reflect on their experiences in a
class discussion facilitated by the class instructor
Instructor role Encourage students to share their reflections on
the simulation experience, to discuss experiences that were difficult or frustrating
Provide details on programs as they are discussed, including review of the reality of program and service availability
EXAMPLE FAMILY
THE COLVINS Mary earns $11/hour at CVS and lives with her
two children in Dorchester
Yearly FPL EII %FPL %EII
Self-sufficient income
$65,238 $18,310 $65,238 356% 100%
Income now $18,304 $18,310 $65,238 100% 28%
MARY’S STRATEGY
Monthly expenses Cost Value of supportNew cost with support/subsidy
Housing & Utilities $1,345 $581 (subsidy) $788
Food $533 $90 (WIC) $443
Transportation $59 $59
Child care $1,790 $1,295 (subsidized care) $495
Personal & household needs $434 $434
Health care $412 $412 (MassHealth) $0
Taxes $1,130 $1,130
Tax credit -$267 $863 (Child tax credit) -$1,130
Total $5,436 $3,325 $2,096
% EII, Original expenses
% EII, New expenses
28% 78%
STUDENT REACTIONS
“It’s so hard to navigate the system!” Eligible for some programs, not others Literacy level required for program websites
“Child care is really expensive.” Surprise at the costs of certain budget items
APPLICATION TO OTHER COURSES AND STUDENTS
APPLICATION TO OTHER COURSES Use
Help explain the role of public programs for low income families
Clarify the concept of economic self-sufficiency Support in-depth analyses of the implications of life
events on families’ economic status and access to public programs
Audiences Medical students Advanced graduate students in public health or social
work Students less experienced in public programs and
policies Students in courses that examine the impact of poverty
from a more theoretical perspective
SUMMARY
KEY BENEFITS Improves students’ understanding of
economic self-sufficiency and poverty measures
Engages and challenges students to think creatively and develop their own solutions while communicating important information and concepts
Offers flexibility for a range of audiences and educational goals
QUESTIONS
MOLLIE ORSHANSKY
FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES 2010
Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 148, August 3, 2010
Persons in family Poverty guideline
1 $10,830
2 $14,570
3 $18,310
4 $22,050
5 $25,790
6 $29,530
7 $33,270
8 $37,010For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS 2010
Persons in family 100% FPL
150% FPL
200% FPL
300% FPL
1 $10,830 $16,245 $21,660 $32,490
2 $14,570 $21,855 $29,140 $43,710
3 $18,310 $27,465 $36,620 $54,930
4 $22,050 $33,075 $44,100 $66,150
5 $25,790 $38,685 $51,580 $77,370
6 $29,530 $44,295 $59,060 $88,590
7 $33,270 $49,905 $66,540 $99,810
8 $37,010 $55,515 $74,020 $111,030
Each additional person $3,740 $5,610 $7,480 $11,220
FPL AND MEDIAN INCOME, MASSACHUSETTS 2009/2010
Family size
100% FPL
200% FPL
300% FPL
State median income
1 $10,830 $21,660 $32,490 $54,842
2 $14,570 $29,140 $43,710 $66,437
3 $18,310 $36,620 $54,930 $83,104
4 $22,050 $44,100 $66,150 $100,280
WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE INDEX? Measure of income adequacy
Takes into account costs of living differences family size and composition age of children community variations in costs of housing and childcare
Measures categories of costs independently recognizes that families spend greater share of
income on housing and childcare than food cost Includes costs associated with working Includes impact of taxes and tax credits
ASSUMPTIONS OF ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE INDEX Employment - all adults work full-time
Child care - uses rates from Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, adjusted for age of child
Transportation - use public transportation in cities, car ownership in other areas
Housing rents- set at 40th%ile of market rate
Food - low cost food plan, no allowance for take-out, fast food, restaurant meals
Health Care - responsible for 30% of health insurance premium ($9,600/year)
http://www.liveworkthrive.org/site/assets/docs/Mass_Index_Methodology_030810.pdf