Anne Mosle Marjorie Sims Celinda Lake Vince Breglio Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children Liane Wong Yvette Sanchez Fuentes Elaine Zimmerman

Transcription

1 Top 10 for 2Gen Anne Mosle, Ascend at the Aspen Institute Marjorie Sims, Ascend at the Aspen Institute Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners Vince Breglio, Breglio and Associates Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children Liane Wong, David and Lucile Packard Foundation Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, National Alliance for Hispanic Families Elaine Zimmerman, Connecticut Commission on Children

2 Ascend at the Aspen Institute 2

3 What we do Elevate & invest in a portfolio of solutions Build leaders & networks Engage the voices of families to inform policies & programs 3

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5 Principles to Guide 2-Gen Policies 1. Measure and account for outcomes for both children and their parents. 2. Engage and listen to the voices of families. 3. Foster innovation and evidence together. 4. Align and link systems and funding streams. 5. Prioritize intentional implementation. 6. Ensure equity.

6 Early Childhood & Human Services 1. Head Start & Early Head Start: Strengthen family supports & increase emphasis on parents role as breadwinners as well as caregivers. 2. Child Care Development Block Grant: Increase access & quality of early childhood settings & ensure greater access to job training and education for parents. 3. Home Visiting: Increase efforts to support economic security outcomes. 4. Bundled services: Promote cross-system collaboration and partnership among human services agencies and institutions of higher education. 5. Financial Aid: Increase postsecondary education access and completion through institutional financial aid reform and policies that more accurately reflect the needs of enrolled student parents.

7 Postsecondary Ed/Workforce, Health & Well-Being, & Social Capital 6. Workforce partnerships: Use the recently passed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make state and local changes that enable twogeneration support. 7. TANF: Redesign Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for 21st century families mothers or fathers, married or single.. 8. Strengthening Families: Strengthen family connections through support and promotion of work opportunities for noncustodial parents. 9. Health Care Coverage: Leverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act to improve economic security and family health and well-being. 10. Mental Health: Maximize opportunities for whole-family diagnosis & treatment.

8 Voices for Two-Generation Success Since 2011, Ascend at the Aspen Institute has invested in bipartisan, national focus groups and polls with low-income mothers, fathers, women, men, and adolescents across race and ethnicity around the United States. Seeking to capture and elevate the experiences, dreams, challenges, and voices of low-income families, Ascend has used this rich series, Voices for Two-Generation Success, to inform a robust practice and policy agenda, including Top 10 for 2-Gen. More findings from this series can be found here: 8

9 Public Support for Two-Generation Programs Findings from a national survey commissioned by Ascend at the Aspen Institute November 7, 2014 Lake Research Partners Washington, DC Berkeley, CA New York, NY LakeResearch.com Celinda Lake

10 Methodology Ascend at the Aspen Institute commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct this national omnibus survey of 1,005 adults over the age of 18 nationwide in the continental United States. The survey was conducted from September 18-21, 2014, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1% at the 95% confidence interval. The margin of error is higher among subgroups. 10

11 Support For a Two-Generation Approach 11

12 Americans overwhelmingly believe a twogeneration approach is most effective. Federal/State Programs to Help People Get Out of Poverty: Which is Most Effective? Programs targeted to PARENTS to help them get the skills and education necessary to get a good paying job Programs targeted to CHILDREN to help them get a quality education that prepares them for the job market Programs targeted to BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN to help each get the education and training they need We do not need any more programs 12

13 Even in these tax sensitive times, Americans favor a two generation approach to bring people out of poverty. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools 89 even if it increased your taxes

14 Strong support for a two-generation approach exists across demographics. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools Total Oppose Total Favor even if it increased your taxes. Total Oppose Total Favor 14

15 2014 voters strongly support a two-generation approach. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools even if it increased your taxes LRP Election Eve/Night Omnibus 15

16 Majorities across party lines favor a two-generation approach even if it would raise their taxes. Republicans are more tax sensitive but favor by more than 2:1. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools Total Oppose Total Favor even if it increased your taxes. Total Oppose Total Favor LRP Election Eve/Night Omnibus

17 Early Childhood 17

18 Americans across demographics believe investing in a parent s economic well-being will help their children succeed. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: If we want to make sure low income children are successful in their early learning, then we have to also invest in their parent's economic well-being. Total Disagree Total Agree Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 18

19 Voters across party lines believe investing in a parent s economic well-being will help their children succeed. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: If we want to make sure low income children are successful in their early learning, then we have to also invest in their parent's economic well-being. Total Disagree Total Agree Darker Colors Indicate Intensity LRP Election Eve/Night Omnibus

20 People strongly agree that Head Start and Early Head Start should partner to help parents. It is a core value. Head Start and Early Head Start are two federal programs that ensure access to quality early learning education for low-income children. Do you agree or disagree that these programs should also partner with organizations that help the parents of low-income children further their education and receive job training? Total Disagree Total Agree Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 20

21 Overwhelming majorities strongly favor home visiting programs offering parents information on education and employment. Currently states run home visiting programs that provide services to low-income pregnant women and parents of young children in their home to encourage child health and development. Do you favor or oppose these programs offering parents information on education, workforce training, and employment opportunities? Total Oppose Total Favor Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 21

22 Americans favor simplifying the application process to determine eligibility across programs. Do you favor or oppose simplifying the application process to public assistance for low-income parents, so that one application can determine eligibility across multiple programs? Total Oppose Total Favor Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 22

23 Majorities across demographic lines favor extending childcare subsidies to parents in college or training programs. Do you favor or oppose making parents enrolled in college or workforce training programs eligible for state-funded childcare subsidies? Total Oppose Total Favor Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 23

24 Americans oppose reducing or eliminating subsidies when a parent gets a raise. Do you favor or oppose child care subsidies being reduced or eliminated when a working low-income parent receives a raise in wages even if the raise does not equal the amount of the subsidy? Total Oppose Total Favor Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 24

25 Postsecondary Education 25

26 Americans favor policies that would help students enrolled in colleges who have young children. Nearly 25 percent of college students, or 4 million people, are parents. Do you favor or oppose each of the following proposals? Providing access for low-income students who have young children to career services and childhood development programs through their school. Extending the hours for career services and childhood development programs for students who have young children to better match working-parent's schedules. Creating partnerships between private, state, and community colleges and universities with government and non-profit organizations to provide services for low-income students who have young children. Including childcare expenses in determining financial aid eligibility for low-income students with young children. Providing low-income students who have young children year-round access to financial aid plans for certificate programs so that they can maintain fulltime student status. Oppose Favor Total Favor By Party Identification Dem Ind Rep Darker Colors Indicate Intensity

27 Economic Supports and Human Services 27

28 Majorities across demographics favor allowing workforce training and education count toward work requirements. Currently, low-income parents of young children qualify for government programs only if they work at least 20 hours per week. Do you favor or oppose allowing workforce training and education programs beyond high school to count as part of this 20 hour weekly work requirement? Total Oppose Total Favor Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 28

29 Health and Well-Being 29

30 Overwhelming majorities agree mental health screenings should be offered to parents & their children at the same time, again a core value. Currently health insurance and Medicaid cover mental health preventive screenings for parents and children who are enrolled. Do you agree or disagree that mental health screenings and services would significantly benefit the whole family if offered to both parents and their children at the same time? Total Disagree Total Agree Darker Colors Indicate Intensity 30

31 Putting this to Work 31

32 Message Tips Do s and Don ts Say Two Generation Don t say Dual Generation Focus on pursuing dreams * Avoid talking about success Talk about programs and policies benefiting everyone (say single parents ) Don t talk about programs as targeted ( single mothers ) Notes Both are somewhat abstract, but for participants Two-generation sounds more like it describes a family. (Some thought dual generation referred to an electric company). Parents want their children to pursue their dreams and be happy. Success comes across as an elitist goal that excludes blue-collar career paths. People think everyone is struggling, so a targeted program will leave out people (children) in need of help. Programs can be targeted, but descriptions should be inclusive. 32

33 Bipartisan Analysis: Vince Breglio & Associates Reflections on Lake Research Findings: Clearly demonstrates widespread support for the effectiveness of a two-generation approach to lift families out of poverty by including both parents and children together in assistance programs. This common sense approach to addressing poverty appeals to both sides of the political aisle and nearly all demographic cohorts. Establishes proof of concept for moving forward with possible changes to the law.

34 Bipartisan Analysis: Clusters of Support Two-Gen Embracers Strongly supportive of all 13 questions which touch on serving children and parents as a unit. Bipartisan but more democrats Younger with more men and women under age 50 than other audiences More support among African Americans and Hispanics Subdued Supporters Somewhat less enthusiastic in their intensity of support but still generally supportive of this policy with a couple of exceptions. More Republicans than Democrats More college graduates Questioning Opposition Not supportive of two-gen policies but not yet solidly opposed either. More Republicans than Democrats

35 Bipartisan Analysis: Message Tips Be mindful that even among Two-Gen Embracers there is a need to reinforce the value of two-generation policies. otwo out of three Two-Gen Embracers choose programs targeted to both parents and children to help each get the education and training they need.

36 Bipartisan Analysis: Message Tips Understand that as you engage on these policies, initially Republicans will be more apt to support parent-targeted programs. The questions which have the highest probability of drawing Republicans in the Subdued Support cohort closer to those in the Two-Gen Embracers include the following: oextending the hours for career services and childhood development ostate-run home visiting programs. oproviding access for low income students. ocreating partnerships between colleges and universities with government and nonprofit organizations.

37 Bipartisan Analysis: Message Tips On the other hand, the following questions are likely to be the most difficult to convince moderate Republicans in the Subdued Support audience to accept: osimplifying the application process for public assistance. oreduced subsidies when a low-income parent receives a raise in wages. oeconomic supports and human services.

38 Bipartisan Analysis: Opportunities Ahead Going forward there are opportunities to: Simplify descriptions of complex policies; Listen for opposition arguments; Probe efficiency argument

39 The 2-Gen Field: Stay Engaged! Join us for upcoming webinars on two-generation solutions: Postsecondary Success and Two-Generation Approaches: November 18, 12pm 1:15pm ET United Ways for 2-Gen: December 10, 12pm 1:00pm ET Get copies of Top 10 for 2-Gen: Visit our website: