Poverty in Oklahoma

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Poverty in Oklahoma
Developed by Jan Maples, Renée Daugherty, and
Dave Shideler Oklahoma Cooperative Extension
Service/Oklahoma State University   Prepared with
support from Rachel Welborn and Meaghan
Gordon Southern Rural Development
Center/Mississippi State University January 2013
(Revised February 15, 2016)
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• Lesson Objectives
• Understand 3 alternative definitions of poverty
• Be able to describe current statistics about
  poverty and how it affects communities, Oklahoma
  and the nation
• Apply the issue of poverty to your lives and
  discover the importance of action
• Generate a list of personal actions youcan take
  regarding the issue of poverty and select one on
  which to work
• Describe the Tide project and consult with or
  access other programs, websites, or resources on
  the issue of poverty

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• Definitions of Poverty
• Based on money
• Poverty thresholds (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Poverty guidelines (U.S. Dept. of HHS)
• Based on money and other resources
• True or False?
• The official poverty definition of the Census
  Bureau uses money income before taxes and does
  not include noncash benefits.

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• Answer
• The official poverty definition of the Census
  Bureau uses money income before taxes and does
  not include noncash benefits.

TRUE The Census Bureau includes all pre-tax
wages, salaries, retirement and other money
income sources, but it does not include non-cash
benefit programs like WIC, SNAP or housing
vouchers.
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• What is the official poverty definition?
• A household is considered to be in poverty if
  total household cash income is less than the
  poverty threshold.
• Cash income includes any unrestricted sources of
  income.
• Threshold reflects the cost of food and basic
  services not necessarily all living expenses.

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• Threshold values vary by
• Household size
• Household composition (e.g., age presence of
  elderly or children)
• Differs from poverty guidelines
• Threshold values do NOT vary by geography
• NOT used to qualify individuals for Federal
  transfer payment programs (e.g., SNAP, CHIP,
  subsided housing)

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2015 Poverty Thresholds
  Related children under 18 years Related children under 18 years Related children under 18 years Related children under 18 years
 Size of family unit None One Two Three
One person (unrelated individual)...        
Under 65 years.................... 12,331      
65 years and over................. 11,367      
         
Two people...........................        
Householder under 65 years........... 15,871 16,337    
Householder 65 years and over.... 14,326 16,275    
         
Three people....................... 18,540 19,078 19,096  
Four people......................... 24,447 24,847 24,036 24,120
View the complete table of thresholds at
http//www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/thresh
ld/thresh15.xls
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• Poverty Guidelines
• (defined/used by U.S. Dept. of HHS)
• Used to determine program qualification
• Figures similar to Census Bureaus poverty
  thresholds, except for
• Different rates for AK, HI
• Not based on age

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• Each Federal program defines income and the
  qualification level (e.g., 125 or 200 of the
  poverty guideline)

Persons in family/household Poverty guideline
1 11,880
2 16,020
3 20,160
4 24,300
5 28,440
6 32,580
7 36,730
8 40,890
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add 4,160 for each additional person. For families/households with more than 8 persons, add 4,160 for each additional person.
2015 Guidelines can be downloaded at
https//aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines
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Example of Applying Guidelines Percent of
Students Eligible for Free Reduced
Lunches (State of Oklahoma / Ottawa County)
2011-12 2012-13 2013-2014
State of OK 61.9 61.5 62.0
Afton 82.2 80.7 78.1
Commerce 81.8 79.6 80.3
Fairland 67.0 65.9 65.6
Miami 75.2 67.8 74.3
Quapaw 69.4 66.5 71.5
Turkey Ford 82.1 91.1 64.1
Wyandotte 64.5 62.0 62.2
Taken from the Oklahoma School Profiles,
http//www.schoolreportcard.org/report-card/county
/list To qualify for reduced meals, household
income must be less than 185 of the poverty
guideline for free meals, must be less than 130
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• True or False?
• The northeastern U.S. has long been the poorest
  region of the United States.

• Oklahoma has the highest poverty rate in the
  nation.

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• True or False?
• The northeastern U.S. has long been the poorest
  region of the United States.

FALSE The southeastern region of the US has long
been the poorest region.

• Oklahoma has the highest poverty rate in the
  nation.

FALSE Mississippi has the highest poverty rate
at 21.9.
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In Comparison Source U.S.
Census Bureaus Small Area Income Poverty
Estimates, 2014
Poverty Percent All Ages Poverty Percent Under Age 18 Median Household Income
U.S. 15.5 21.7 53,657
State of Oklahoma 16.6 22.4 47,524
Sequoyah Co. 27.9 37.7 35,592
Canadian Co. 7.7 10.1 68,421
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• True or False?
• Poverty is solely the result of an individuals
  actions

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• True or False?
• Poverty is solely the result of an individuals
  actions

FALSE Poverty is not simply the result of bad
choices. While individuals may bear some
responsibility for their circumstances, social
institutions like educational systems, laws and
regulations, and a lack of exposure to
alternative ideas/classes, contribute to and can
exacerbate an individuals poverty.
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• Poverty is Everywhere

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Poverty The extent to which an individual does
without resources. -Ruby Payne

• Financial
• Emotional
• Mental
• Spiritual
• Physical
• Support systems
• Relationships/role models
• Knowledge of hidden rules
• Coping strategies
• Integrity, trust
• Motivation, persistence,
• Formal register

Sources Bridges out of Poverty Strategies for
Professionals and Communities (Payne, DeVol and
Smith), Bridges to Sustainable
Communities A system-wide, cradle-to-grave
approach to ending poverty in America (DeVol),
and Bridges out of Poverty presentation,
Stillwater, OK May 2011
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Making It PersonalDescribe a time when you, or
someone close to you, struggled with poverty (of
any kind).What was it like?How did others
react?Did any of the resources takethe place
of or ease the feelingcaused by inadequate
money?
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Making It PersonalWhat were the similarities
in the stories?What were the differences?Anyth
ing really strike home with you?Why is it
important to look at our own stories?
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• Turning the Tide on Poverty Creating Vibrant
  Communities Together
• A joint project
• Southern Rural Development CenterVisit
  http//srdc.msstate.edu/tide/
• 5 state Extension Services (including Oklahoma)
• Kettering Foundation
• Everyday Democracy
• Objective Involve a wide range of community
  members in fighting poverty by utilizing local
  talents and resources
• Two stages move from deliberative dialogue to
  action
• Pilot test in 2009-2010 - Okfuskee County

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Turning the Tide on Poverty Raises awareness
about poverty among the general public through
civil dialogue that leads to community-wide
action Stage 1
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• Stage 2 Action (1 yrs)
• Action teams
• Set goals with measurable objectives
• Implement plans
• Determine successes
• Assess progress
• Where appropriate,
• institute permanent
• policies and programs

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• Community Circles Mini-simulation
• Why is there poverty here?

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• Tide outcomes in OK (Okfuskee Co. 2009-12)
• Helped residents overcome apathy
• Caused small communities to see similar issues
  and learn together
• Found employment for some receiving TANF
• Helped create community pride and unity
• Created a Clearview community vegetable garden

• Tide outcomes
• in other states)
• Helped stop youth gang violence (AL)
• Allowed high schoolers to realize leadership
  potential and build conflict resolution skills by
  working on community issues (LA)
• Created food pantries, clothing closets,
  community gardens, and Community Resource
  Directory (MS)
• Planted fruit trees, created farmers market, and
  developed actions to improve the quality of
  schools (MS)

For more information about Turning the Tide on
Poverty http//srdc.msstate.edu/tide/results.html
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Taking Action

• Lets brainstorm

Pledge Card
I Can Do
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Tide Contacts in Oklahoma
Jan Maples Okfuskee County [phone]
Renée Daugherty OSU Professor Emeritus (918)
995-2261
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