Poverty’s Impact on the Students of Watsonville · Salud para la Gente Salvation Army CareerWorks CareerWorks and EDD Cabrillo College, Watsonville High School Talking to individual

Fall 2004 Semester Fall 2004 Semester -- Digital Bridge Digital Bridge AcademyAcademy 11

PovertyPoverty’’s Impact on the s Impact on the Students of WatsonvilleStudents of Watsonville

Mario AlvarezMario AlvarezMason Wong Mason Wong Carlos AnayaCarlos Anaya

Nancy RamirezNancy RamirezElizabeth RobleroElizabeth Roblero

Gilberto ReyesGilberto ReyesWayne JensenWayne Jensen

Hector RodriguezHector Rodriguez


Poverty & Education Poverty & Education –– Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Executive SummaryExecutive SummaryNeeds AnalysisNeeds AnalysisSolution DescriptionsSolution DescriptionsSolution ChoiceSolution Choice


Executive SummaryExecutive Summary

By: Hector RodriguezBy: Hector Rodriguez


Project GoalProject Goal

To collect information and data about:To collect information and data about:–– PovertyPoverty’’s impact on the students of s impact on the students of

WatsonvilleWatsonville

To describe a solution that will address:To describe a solution that will address:–– The effects that poverty has in studentThe effects that poverty has in student’’s s

performance in school performance in school


Research QuestionsResearch Questions

How does poverty effect studentHow does poverty effect student’’s s educational experience?educational experience?

What can be done to alleviate the negative What can be done to alleviate the negative effects of poverty?effects of poverty?


ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Team LeadersTeam LeadersHector Rodriguez Hector Rodriguez

Wayne JensenWayne Jensen

Needs StatementNeeds StatementMario AlvarezMario AlvarezMason WongMason WongCarlos AnayaCarlos Anaya

Solutions StatementSolutions StatementNancy RamirezNancy Ramirez

Elizabeth Roblero Elizabeth Roblero Gilberto Reyes Gilberto Reyes


Data CollectionData Collection Surveyed 165 peopleSurveyed 165 people 48% were students48% were students 34% were parents34% were parents 16% were social workers16% were social workers

Surveys distributed to and collected from:Surveys distributed to and collected from:Salud para la GenteSalud para la GenteSalvation ArmySalvation ArmyCareerWorksCareerWorks and EDDand EDDCabrillo College, Watsonville High SchoolCabrillo College, Watsonville High SchoolTalking to individual and businessesTalking to individual and businesses

La Plazita Downtown WatsonvilleLa Plazita Downtown Watsonville FarmerFarmer’’s Markets Market


The Need:The Need: How poverty affects people in How poverty affects people in

WatsonvilleWatsonville

Mario AlvarezMario AlvarezCarlos AnayaCarlos AnayaMason WongMason Wong


BackgroundBackgroundSurveyed 165 peopleSurveyed 165 people

Ethnicity / LanguageEthnicity / Language–– 89% Latino and Spanish as their first language89% Latino and Spanish as their first language–– 6% Asian6% Asian

GenderGender–– 67% are female67% are female–– 33% are male33% are male

Information on HouseholdsInformation on Households–– 42% were members of families with low42% were members of families with low--incomesincomes–– 64% had both parents employed64% had both parents employed–– 61% surveyed had parents with education level below high school61% surveyed had parents with education level below high school

FamilyFamily–– 48% were students 48% were students –– 34% were parents 34% were parents


What is the needWhat is the need (1)(1)

Families need financial assistanceFamilies need financial assistance–– 68% surveyed had over 5 people in the household68% surveyed had over 5 people in the household–– 7% surveyed had over 10 people in the household7% surveyed had over 10 people in the household–– 64% of the families had annual income below $25,000 64% of the families had annual income below $25,000

Families need support servicesFamilies need support services–– 45% of the households have 5 or more kids that are 45% of the households have 5 or more kids that are

school ageschool age–– 86% of the parents are interested in their children86% of the parents are interested in their children’’s s

studies studies


What is the needWhat is the need (2)(2)

Students need educational supportStudents need educational support–– 59% surveyed had parents with educational level 59% surveyed had parents with educational level

below high schoolbelow high school–– 77% of students surveyed have problems with 77% of students surveyed have problems with

homeworkhomework–– 59% social service providers indicated that 59% social service providers indicated that

schools donschools don’’t provide adequate materialst provide adequate materials–– 55% of students have language challenges and 55% of students have language challenges and

health issueshealth issues


When is the need evident When is the need evident Need is evident when students:Need is evident when students:

dondon’’t have school materialst have school materials

drop out of schooldrop out of school

feel discriminated against because of their low economic feel discriminated against because of their low economic statusstatus

engage in gang activitiesengage in gang activities

need help with homework and have no help availableneed help with homework and have no help available–– Parents donParents don’’t have enough education or English skills to helpt have enough education or English skills to help

families lack the families lack the ““basicsbasics””–– food, shelter, medical care and moneyfood, shelter, medical care and money


Why does this need occur Why does this need occur (1)(1)

This occurs because of:This occurs because of:Employment need:Employment need:–– Students drop out of school to work and help to support Students drop out of school to work and help to support

their familytheir family

–– Parents may not have skills for better employment Parents may not have skills for better employment opportunitiesopportunities

–– Shortage of opportunities for livableShortage of opportunities for livable--wage jobs to support wage jobs to support a familya family

–– Many people live in the same householdMany people live in the same householdfew of them are employedfew of them are employed


Why does this need occur Why does this need occur (2)(2)

This occurs because of:This occurs because of:Youth center needs:Youth center needs:–– Not providing enough programs and resources for Not providing enough programs and resources for

studentsstudents

–– There is a shortage of youth centers There is a shortage of youth centers

Lack of school materials which prevent students Lack of school materials which prevent students from school successfrom school success


Evidence of problemEvidence of problem

$0 -

$15,

000

42%

$15,

000

- $25

,000

22%

$25,

000

- $35

,000

17%

$35

,000

+20

%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

$0 - $15,000$15,000 - $25,000$25,000 - $35,000Over $35,000

Annual Income Level



No

Scho

ol0% Prim

ary

3% Seco

ndar

y20

%

Hig

h Sc

hool

38%

Col

lege

39%

Col

lege

Dip

lom

a2%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

No SchoolPrimarySecondaryHigh SchoolCollegeCollege Diploma

Educational Level



17%

74%

45%50%

77%

29%

73%

85%

54%59%

64%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Homeworkgangs

housing

discrimination

studentparentworker


What are the benefits of meeting the needWhat are the benefits of meeting the needBenefits include:Benefits include:

Increase in high school graduation ratesIncrease in high school graduation rates

Reduced need for public assistance Reduced need for public assistance

Enhanced selfEnhanced self--esteem as a result of selfesteem as a result of self--reliancereliance

Families are prepared to send their children to collegeFamilies are prepared to send their children to college

Educated parents take more interest in their childrenEducated parents take more interest in their children’’s s education education

Parents become better financial role models for their Parents become better financial role models for their children children


Consequences of Consequences of notnot meeting the need.meeting the need.

Consequences include:Consequences include:

Increasing number of students droppingIncreasing number of students dropping--out of schoolout of school

Rising gang membershipRising gang membership

Lowering attendance in college Lowering attendance in college

Maintaining povertyMaintaining poverty

Enabling discriminationEnabling discrimination

Increasing homelessnessIncreasing homelessness

Lowering possibilities of obtaining a wellLowering possibilities of obtaining a well--paying jobpaying job


What do lowWhat do low--income families requireincome families require

They require:They require:ResourcesResources

Increased learning and educational opportunitiesIncreased learning and educational opportunities

More social interaction and emotional supportMore social interaction and emotional support


The SolutionThe Solution

Gilberto ReyesGilberto ReyesNancy Ramirez Nancy Ramirez

Elizabeth RobleroElizabeth Roblero


Three recommended solutionsThree recommended solutions

Provide:Provide:Resources to familiesResources to families

Social interaction and emotional supportSocial interaction and emotional support

Learning and educational opportunitiesLearning and educational opportunities


Solution 1: Resources to FamiliesSolution 1: Resources to Families

Financial supportFinancial support

Food programsFood programs

Health servicesHealth services

Teen pregnancy programsTeen pregnancy programs

Shelter programsShelter programs

Inform people about programs/ educationInform people about programs/ education


Solution 1: Resources to FamiliesSolution 1: Resources to Families continuedcontinued

Housing and utilities referral programs Housing and utilities referral programs

LowLow--income housing supportincome housing support

Utility payment programsUtility payment programs

Help with lowHelp with low--income loansincome loans

Discount real estate servicesDiscount real estate services


Sol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional SupportSol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional Support

Field TripsField Trips

Learning experiencesLearning experiences

Meeting new peopleMeeting new people

Exposed to new environmentExposed to new environment

Stress reductionStress reduction

Tension releaseTension release

InspirationInspiration


Sol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional Support Sol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional Support continuedcontinued

Employment programs that offer supportEmployment programs that offer support

Emotional support for young mothersEmotional support for young mothers

Baby sitting servicesBaby sitting services

Sports outing to relive stressSports outing to relive stress

Money management support programsMoney management support programs


Solution 3: Learning & Educational OpportunitiesSolution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities

Guest speaker covering following topics:Guest speaker covering following topics:

Supporting childrenSupporting children’’s needs in schools needs in school

How to overcome the poverty barrierHow to overcome the poverty barrier

Career employment opportunitiesCareer employment opportunities

leadership trainingleadership trainingmanagement trainingmanagement traininghighhigh--growth careersgrowth careerseducational requirements for higheducational requirements for high--paying careerspaying careers


Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities continuedcontinued

Role models in society and the Role models in society and the communitycommunity

Family counseling and educationFamily counseling and education•• Parental trainingParental training•• Financial educationFinancial education

Handling creditHandling credit•• NonNon--violent communicationviolent communication•• Stress reductionStress reduction•• Gang RehabilitationGang Rehabilitation



Tutoring programsTutoring programs•• Student encouragement and motivationStudent encouragement and motivation•• Skills improvementSkills improvement•• Language improvementLanguage improvement•• Career counselingCareer counseling



Teach ToleranceTeach Tolerance•• Cultural differencesCultural differences•• Language differencesLanguage differences•• Physical challengesPhysical challenges•• Learning disabilitiesLearning disabilities•• Sexual diversitySexual diversity



Provide Literacy WorkshopsProvide Literacy Workshops•• Basic skills improvementBasic skills improvement

•• Career counselingCareer counseling

•• Science projectsScience projects

•• Environmental education Environmental education


Criteria for Selecting Solution Criteria for Selecting Solution (1)(1)

Literacy ImprovementLiteracy Improvement

Communication between Parents & StudentsCommunication between Parents & Students

Social Interaction Social Interaction

Learning Experience Learning Experience

Community Integration Community Integration


Criteria for Selecting Solution Criteria for Selecting Solution (2)(2)

Help Youth Academically Help Youth Academically

Accessible Programs for the Community Accessible Programs for the Community

Job Opportunities Job Opportunities

Health Benefits Health Benefits


Criteria TableCriteria Table

Provide Provide ResourcesResources

Learning & Learning & Education Education

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Social & Social & Emotional Emotional SupportSupport

Literacy Literacy improvementimprovement

XX XXXXXX XXXX

Communication Communication between between Parents & Parents & StudentsStudents

XX XXXX XXXXXX

Social Social Interaction Interaction

XX XXXXXX XXXXXX


Criteria Criteria Table Table continuedcontinued





Learning Learning Experience Experience

XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX

Community Community IntegrationIntegration

XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX

Help Youth Help Youth AcademicallyAcademically

XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX


Criteria Criteria Table Table continuedcontinued





Accessible Accessible Programs for Programs for the Communitythe Community

XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX

Job Job OpportunitiesOpportunities

XXXXXX XXXX XXXX

Health BenefitsHealth Benefits XXXX XX XXXX


THE SOLUTION WE CHOSETHE SOLUTION WE CHOSE……

Social & Emotional Social & Emotional Support Support


Goals of SolutionGoals of SolutionBring parents & students together to promote Bring parents & students together to promote

communicationcommunication

Help students feel better at schoolHelp students feel better at school•• Reduce stressReduce stress•• Prevent students from dropping out of schoolPrevent students from dropping out of school

Provide a good learning experience Provide a good learning experience •• Encourage & motivate them Encourage & motivate them


Solution OutcomesSolution Outcomes

Reduce the number of students dropping out of Reduce the number of students dropping out of

school school

•• Encourage students to go to college Encourage students to go to college

Increase social integrationIncrease social integration

Improve student performance in school Improve student performance in school

Prepare students for better jobsPrepare students for better jobs

Increase selfIncrease self--esteemesteem


Solution Outcomes Solution Outcomes continuedcontinued

Create educational interest in studentsCreate educational interest in students

Keep kids off the street Keep kids off the street

Help kids have fun while they are learning Help kids have fun while they are learning

Encourage kids to be creative by working on Encourage kids to be creative by working on

projectsprojects

Build selfBuild self--esteem and confidence in themselves esteem and confidence in themselves

Documents

Poverty’s Impact on the Students of Watsonville · Salud para la Gente Salvation Army CareerWorks CareerWorks and EDD Cabrillo College, Watsonville High School Talking to individual