Poverty Forum

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

March 12th, 2011

David Blatt

Director, Oklahoma Policy Institute

dblatt@okpolicy.org; www.okpolicy.org

918-794-3944

Poverty

Economic Policy Institute (EPI)

U.S. Census Bureau

In 2009, a U.S. family of four with an income of $22,050 was

considered to be poor, or below the poverty line.

Oklahoma’s poverty rate (13.2 percent) is 2.5 percentage

points higher than the national average (15.7 percent).

15.7%

13.2%

0 5 10 15 20 25

Oklahoma

U.S.

Persons below poverty level, percent, 2009

Status of Children and

Families

American Community Survey 2009

U.S. Census Bureau

The poverty rate for children (22.0 percent) is higher than that of

working-age adults (15.2 percent) or seniors (9.5 percent).

Families with children, especially young children, are likeliest

to live in poverty. Oklahoma families headed by single

mothers are five times as likely to live in poverty as

families headed by married couples (ACS 2009).

22.0%

15.2%

9.5%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

Children 18 andunder

Adults 19-64 Elderly 65+

Po

vert

y R

ate

Oklahoma Poverty Rate by Age, 2009

Poverty

American Community Survey 2009

U.S. Census Bureau

A majority of Oklahomans in poverty are White (62.9

percent).

Population in Poverty by Race, Oklahoma 2009

Poverty

American Community Survey 2009

U.S. Census Bureau

Within Oklahoma, African-Americans, Hispanics, and

Native Americans have the highest rates of poverty.

Poverty Rate by Race and Hispanic/Latino Origin, Oklahoma 2009

Status of Children and

Families

Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA)

http://oica.org/fastfacts

Oklahoma is ranked 5th highest (worst) in the nation in the teen

birth rate for 15-19 year-olds.

Oklahoma’s infant death rate ranks 40th.

Nearly half of the mothers giving birth in Oklahoma receive

inadequate prenatal care.

Nearly one-third of the state’s children, ages 10-17, are

overweight or obese.

Three of every hundred children in Oklahoma has a mother,

father, or both in prison.

There were 8,605 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect

in Oklahoma in 2009.

Status of Children and

Families

OKDHS

The number of Oklahoman’s receiving food stamps grew 11.7

percent from October 2009 to the same month in 2010. More

than 30 percent of the state's children received food stamps in

December 2010.

546,988

610,995

500,000

520,000

540,000

560,000

580,000

600,000

620,000

October 2009 October 2010

# E

nro

lle

d in

SN

AP

Oklahomans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Status of Children and

Families

OICA KIDS COUNT Factbook

2010

Status of Children and

Families

OICA KIDS COUNT Factbook

2010

150 babies are born

7 of the babies are born to children

62 of the babies are born without adequate prenatal care

12 of the babies are born too small

84 children are investigated for allegations of serious child abuse and/or neglect

24 children are confirmed to be victims of child abuse and/or neglect

State

Budget

Crisis

Revenue drop was more than twice as severe as during the

downturn of 2001-02;

FY ‘10 General Revenue 23 percent below pre-downturn (FY

‘08) levels;

FY ‘10 GR collections less than FY ’01 – without adjusting for

inflation or population growth.

Impact of Budget Cuts

Funding of state services is 6 percent below FY ‘09

Over half of all state agencies have been cut by more than 15 percent

Most state agencies and school districts are struggling to accomplish their core

missions with significantly reduced staffing and resources

Impact of Budget Cuts

ODMHSAS Budget Request FY '12

Oklahoma Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Budget cut by $25 million over the last 18 months

Eliminated

28 beds at Griffin Memorial Hospital

80 substance-abuse beds in Norman and Tahlequah

35 children's mental health beds

26-bed enhanced residential treatment center

70% needing treatment for serious mental illness & 77% in

need of substance abuse treatment are not receiving

appropriate care

More than 40% of youth who need mental health services and

80% who need substance abuse treatment not receiving care

Impact of Budget Cuts

OKDHS Finance Division and NewsOK

Dept of Human Services

Loss of approximately $94 million in state and federal funds

for FY'10-FY '11

Eliminated

An estimated 1,186 full time employees

320 beds from therapeutic foster care and group homes

Reductions in workshops, community integrated employment

programs, and emergency services for people with

developmental disabilities

Senior meal program cut by $7.4 million ($5 million restored in

FY '11)

Increasing need for human services

1/3rd of Oklahomans on food stamps or Medicaid

Oklahomans receiving DHS services increased by 18

percent in 2009

Impact of Budget Cuts

NewsOK

Public Health

Oklahoma is ranked 49th in overall health of its citizens

The Health Department has been cut by 15 percent in two

years, forcing 300 layoffs

If the Health Department budget is cut by 5 percent or more

this year, it will eliminate the Office of Child Abuse Prevention

Further cuts to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA)

would threaten payments for kidney dialysis, prescription

drugs, and wheelchairs for low-income residents

Oklahomans receiving Medicaid assistance are at an all-time

high of 885,000 and expected to increase to 950,000 by 2012

Impact of Budget Cuts

NewsOK

What Can We Do?

Insist that our budget reflects our values

Defer or repeal additional tax cuts while budgets are being cut

Examine tax credits, exemptions and deductions

Prioritize prevention and treatment

Promote family financial security across the entire population

Matched saving accounts for families, children and students

Tighter financial regulation of high-cost loans

Elimination of asset tests in public programs

Require employers receiving public incentives to provide retirement benefits