Poverty, Deprivation & Attachment. Elaine Simpson Action for Children Charlotte Drury Attachment Network Wales

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1 Poverty, Deprivation & Attachment Elaine Simpson Action for Children Charlotte Drury Attachment Network Wales

2 Attachment An on-going two-way process requiring continuity & consistency of good enough care giving from adult(s) bearing the major responsibility for parenting Starts during pregnancy Of key importance especially during the first 3 years of life

3 Why does it matter? Growing up in an emotionally warm environment where a child s needs are consistently met provides a secure base for children from which they can explore the world with confidence & trust Happy children Healthy children Capable children

4 Why things go wrong Neglect & abuse Parental stress or absence Parental illness including mental health Alcohol/substance misuse Childhood illness

5 When things go wrong Lack of a secure base from which to find out about themselves & the world with confidence Social, thinking & organisational difficulties such as planning ahead, consequential thinking, adapting to change, empathy & maintaining positive relationships Shame, low self-esteem Difficulty in managing strong emotions

6 Do poor parents make poor parents? 28% of all children are living in relative poverty (defined as 60% median income after housing costs) In Wales there are estimated to be around 200,000 children growing up in poverty (WG, 2010) Parents living in poverty are over represented in statistics on neglect

7 The Demographics of Poverty Poor families are more likely to: Have non-traditional structures (lone parents, reconstituted families) Live in households where no adult is employed Be headed by younger (teen) parents Have a sick or disabled child Have children under five Have a large number of children

8 Poverty & Parenting The role of parents in the relationship between poverty & child outcomes not well understood Parents more likely to face a range of difficulties other than material deprivation Poor educational outcomes Communities of disadvantage Poor health outcomes Domestic abuse

9 Cycle of poverty Poor adult Poor child Poorer prospects Poorer outcomes

10 The Detrimental Effect of Poverty on Parenting Financial worry Anxiety & depression Domestic abuse Fewer support systems Poor diet Little or no choice Isolation Powerlessness Debt Poor access to services STRESS Few skills Few resources Poor housing Low self esteem Poor mental health Lack of confidence Illness & disability Relationship breakdown Poverty Substance misuse Poor infrastructure

11 Environmental impact. parenting in poor environments is a more risky business than parenting elsewhere, and it gets riskier the poorer the area. (Ghate and Hazel, 2002, p. 101)

12 The Detrimental Effect of Poverty on Parenting Parents under such stress will struggle to provide an optimal home environment Adult relationship breakdown Link between depression, disrupted parenting & poor outcomes for children Less nurturing, less supervision & more likely to use harsh & inconsistent disciple

13 Parenting & Poverty Poverty affects parenting but parenting also affects poverty creating a cycle of disadvantage Parents may have less resilience Additional stress created by poverty Poorer health outcomes Reduced access to services & resources to mitigate difficulties Isolation

14 Cycle of attachment Parental stress Poor attachment Poor adult relationships Poor outcomes

15 Parenting in Poverty Income does not determine parenting style Judging by the right standards (it s much easier to manage resources when you have enough!) Child outcomes are affected by a wide range of factors, poverty is just one Parenting as a mitigating factor breaking the cycle of poverty (the importance of attachment)

16 Poverty, Rights & Attachment Children s rights are fundamental both as a core right & as a tool necessary to progress the realisation of other rights Having a right is only meaningful if you can access it The family is a fundamental vehicle for enabling children s rights

17 Poverty, Rights & Attachment Promoting positive patterns of attachment raises the resilience of families & mitigates the impact of poverty Promoting positive patterns of attachment enables children to access their rights Promoting positive patterns of attachment helps break the cycle of poverty

18 Poverty, Rights & Attachment Children have rights Art.1 To live, grow & develop healthily Art.6 To a name, nationality, a home & a family Art.7 To a family that nurtures & cares for them Art.9 To care & protection Art.19

19 Read the statement Discussion Work in small groups(4 6 people) Half of the group (2 or 3 people) discuss the statement from a rights perspective. The other half of the group discuss the statement from an attachment perspective When instructed, discuss the tensions and overlaps as a whole group Work on one statement at a time. We will time keep