Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Pottawattamie County has a higher percentage of it's population receiving food assistance than the State of Iowa, a higher percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch than in the State of Iowa, a higher percentage of the population reciving cash assistance from the Family Investment program than the state of Iowa, a higher percentage of adults with fewer than 12 years of schooling than the state of Iowa and a lower percentage of households with incomes of less than $15,000 than the State of Iowa as well as a lower percentage of the civilian labor force employed than the state of Iowa. It is important that community leaders have an understanding of the state of poverty to provide effective leadership.

Response:
ISU Extension conducted a poverty simulation for the Adult and Youth Leadership Groups sponsored by the Council Bluffs Chamber. Human Service Advisory Council Members were also included as simulation participants.

Impact:
On a 5 point scale the mean rating from pre-post simulation changed on the following awareness questions as follows:

1. The financial pressures faced by low-income families in meeting basic needs - Adult Leadership group +2/667, Youth Leadership group +1.333
2. The difficult choices people with low-resources need to make each month when stretching limited income.- Adult Leadership group +1.266, Youth Leadership group +1.467
3. The difficulties in improving one's situation and becoming self-sufficient on a limited income. - Adult Leadership group +1.200, Youth Leadership group +1.113
4. The emotional stresses and frustrations created by having limited resources. - Adult Leadership group +2.887, Youth Leadership group _+1.734
5. The positive and negative impacts of "helpers" on people with limited resources. - Adult Leadership group +1.334, Youth Leadership group +1.800

Adult Leadership group participants commented that they would:

• Volunteer their time and resources more
• Would contribute more to food banks
• Be more understanding as an employer of the influence they have on people's lives.
• Would focus more effort on long term solutions like education and job training.

Youth Leadership group participants commented that they would:

• Hold a can drive at their school
• Become more involved as a volunteer
• Be more sensitive in school to kids from low-resource families
• Help raise money for organizations that help people in poverty.

 

Additional Team Members:
Planning Committee: Council Bluffs Chamber, AEA 13, Human Services Advisory Council, Promise Partners, FADS, Trailblazers

Other Staff Involved:
Mary Beth Kaufman, Family Resource Management Field Specialist, 712-755-3104, mbkaufma@iastate.edu

Contact:
Patricia Anderson
West Pottawattamie Extension
3501 Harry Langdon Bldg - Careers Building
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
712-366-7070
pander@iastate.edu