Family Needs and Services

1. Family Needs and Services

2. Define structure vs. function of families • Structure describes who the members are, e.g. nuclear family, extended family, etc. Other examples of family types? • Function describes the purpose of the family. What are the roles filled and needs met by the family? • Over time both of these have changed; Skolnick’s model of cultural transformation is one way of explaining the process of change.

3. Demographicshttp://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs.htmlDemographicshttp://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs.html

4. The Widening Gap research Using daily diaries and interviews, this research group examined working conditions of families across the income spectrum as well as how much time they spent on family related responsbilities. • As income rises workers are more likely to have sick and vacation leave, or have more sick and vacation leave. • As income rises, workers are more likely to have flexibility in their job and more “say” in their job. • Women, on average, are less likely to have sick or vacation leave, flexibility on their work hours. • Lower income families spend more unpaid time assisting parents/inlaws.

5. Changing conditions for families • Increased difficulty balancing work and family responsibilities • Increased family demands on adults from both children and parents • Increased demands on grandparents • Increased cost of childcare

6. Some facts about childcare • 60% of mothers with young children also work and absenteeism caused by breakdowns in childcare costs US business $3 billion a year. • In Washington, childcare costs, on average, 20% of after-tax wages per child. • In King County, the average wage for teachers in childcare centers is $9.45/hour ($19,656/year). • Early childhood education teachers receive pay which is 25% less than the average for workers with similar education and experience. Home providers take in only $30, 265/year before expenses. • Studies have repeatedly shown that the single most important determinant of childcare quality is the presence of consistent, sensitive, well-trained and well-compensated caregivers. (All figures from Economic Opp. Inst. 2002). In King County centers, 18.3% of teachers had been hired within the last six months.

7. Services and Resources • Family and Medical Leave Act • Half of working adults are eligible-you have to work for a company with 50+ employees, have worked there for the past year and at least 1250 hours. It is unpaid leave. • Situations in which it applies: • the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and the care of such son or daughter; • the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care; • the care of spouse, son, daughter, or parent of the employee who has a serious health condition; or a serious health condition of the employee that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her positions.

8. Services and resources, cont. • City of Seattle programs. • Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program: similar to Headstart, focused on 4 yr olds, income elig=110% of FPL • Comprehensive Child Care Program: 200% of FPL, residents or workers in Seattle, • Working Connections Child Care Program • Eligibility is 200% of FPL • Co-pay of $15.00 minimum (82% of FPL), more as income increases ($50.00 for 82-137.5% of FPL) • Headstart: Federal program, 100% of FPL, 3 and 4 year olds are primary targets…focus is early learning, not childcare. • Grandparent serviceshttp://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/raising_grandchild/ • Welfare Rights Organizing Committee • Working Families Party: Living wages, healthcare, housing and education • Washington Learns Commission: Established a Department of Early Learning in order to improve efficiency and centralize resources for easier access. It also promotes public/private partnerships, increased resources and training for parents, improvements in quality of childcare and universal voluntary all-day kindergarten.

9. SPS Bond and Levy-Feb. 6th • Proposition 1: Building Excellence III Capital Bond • Renovating and replacement of buildings • Infrastructure improvements, such as plumbing, athletic field improvements, etc. • Technology improvements • It continues a bond that is expiring and will be in place for six years.

10. Proposition 2-Educational Programs and Operations Levy • It represents 24% of the operating budget • Counselors, librarians, instructional assistants are funded with this money • Full day kindergarten (one at each school) • Bilingual education • Special education • Student transportation • Security and maintenance

11. Older Adults • Review demographics • We have a fairly well-developed system of services for older adults • Federal Administration on Aging • State unit: Aging and Adult Services Administration • County: Aging Program • City: Aging and Disability Services

12. Older Adult Services, cont. • Adult Protective Services- www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/default.htm • Gray Panthers-an advocacy organization • AARP

13. Social Security • Goals include: • An insurance program for families of deceased workers and disabled workers. • A fairly successful anti-poverty program, improving the quality of life for individuals. • A way of maintaining the well-being of older adults which has an impact on the quality of life in society at large. • A safety net that operates differently than in the private sector, alleviating some of the risk associated with private investment.

14. Characteristics of OASDI • Funding is from social security taxes for retirement, disability and medicare portions. Income is taxed at 7.65% for the first $90,000 in earnings. Once your income goes over that in one year, you no longer pay during that year. • How much you get upon retirement depends, in part, on how much you earned during your work life. Lower earners actually get a larger percentage of their contribution than higher earners. 56.8, 41.8 and 29% of salary. • Retirement benefit can be received at age 62, increasing to 67 in 2027. • Disability benefit can be received when the person has a disability that prevents them from working. • Survivor’s benefits are also a part of the program, and provide an income to a widow(er) or dependent. • The percentage breakdown of who receives the benefits is: 61.5%=retired workers (26.8 million), 12.5% (5.5 million)=widows/widowers & mothers/fathers, 7.4% (3.2 mil)=wives/husbands, 8.7% (3.8 mil)=children, 9.9% (4.3 mil)=disabled workers.

15. Privatization? • Arguments for • Ownership=empowerment - Americans “own” and control portion of accounts through investing. Freedom of choice. • Freedom to give – Choose beneficiary after death. • Investing in stock market might allow funds to grow faster. • Benefit cuts needed but private accounts might make trade-off acceptable. • Opportunity to save - Private accounts may encourage additional saving and accumulation of real wealth.

16. Privatization • Arguments against? • Financial problem doesn’t justify a major overhaul, is not a crisis. • Cost: Investing will require massive education & downturns in economy may result in losses. Higher employer costs to handle accounts. • Cost of making transition = $2-3 trillion • Concern that guaranteed benefits to disabled and poor will be reduced through individual accounts. • Private accounts may lead people to save less.