Poverty Prevention Strategy as it

Poverty

Prevention Strategy

As it relates to the aforementioned issue of Children's poverty in Louisiana, there must be a concerted effort to meet the needs of the populace. These needs are inclusive of but not limited to living-wage compensation, safe and affordable housing, and education. It is evident that one of the primary problems associated with attempting to meet these needs is bureaucracy and the slow pace at which society changes. The state of Louisiana can no longer afford to allow children to live in such deplorable conditions.

The prevention strategy proposed will first examine the issue of living wage compensation.

Many of the poor children in Louisiana are from families of the working poor. This means that the head of household actually works full time but does not make what a living wage. The prevention strategy would make it mandatory for businesses to supply employees with living wage compensation. The implementation of such a mandate may occur over a period of time but should take place within a three-year period.

Living wage compensation will allow families to afford their basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Having the ability to afford these necessities without having to work multiple jobs will have a positive impact on families and their children because the head of household will be able to spend more time with the children and offer the proper supervision and guidance. This may also decrease the amount of crime and gang activity because more children will have proper supervision. The presence of a living wage will also allow a family to purchase healthier foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables which would assist in lowering some of the health risks that this segment of the population tends to face.

The strategy would also entail the implementation of safe affordable housing that families will be able to purchase as oppose to renting.

Statistics have shown that children that live in a home that their parents or guardians own are more stable and do better in school than children that live in rental properties. In fact Green & White (1997) found that the "earlier a family owns a home, the greater the probability that the youth remained in school (Haurin et al. 2002. pg 635)." In addition, neighborhoods in which a majority of the occupants own their homes tend to be safer their neighborhoods where the majority of the occupants rent their homes, because people tend to take better care of property that they own (Rohe, McCarthy & Van Zandt 2000). Organizations such as habitat for humanity have proven that home ownership is possible for the very poor. The prevention strategy will call for the implementation of a housing plan that is modeled after habitat for humanity.

In addition, the strategy will also address education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. As it relates to education teachers should have the proper credential and pay should be appropriate and consistent with experience. There should be a proper amount of textbooks. There should be no more than 20 students per teacher and computers and internet access should be available at all schools. Certain standards should be in place as it relates to the condition of school buildings and any building that does not meet these standards must be renovated to meet these standards. These standards would be inclusive of working fire alarms, secure entrances and exits, proper lighting, clean floors, clean and operational restrooms, no peeling paint, intact ceilings, properly working heating and air conditioning. It is extremely important that the school environment is conducive to learning and that students surroundings reflect a caring and nurturing environment.