Rural Kids Count Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Famil

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Rural Kids Count!Oklahoma Institute for Child
Advocacy and Arkansas Advocates for Children and
Families

• Rural Family Strengthening and Family Economic
  Success Initiative
• Funded by The Annie E. Casey Foundation

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Rural Poverty in AR and OK

• Over 300,000 rural Oklahoma and Arkansas
  residents live on incomes that fall below the
  poverty line (under 15,000 per year for a family
  of 3 in 2003)
• Nearly 40 of those live in extreme poverty
  (under 7,500 per year for a family of 3)

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Rural AR and OK Demographics
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Project Goals

• Raise the visibility and highlight the needs
  of rural families living in poverty in OK
  and AR
• Deepen the collective understanding of issues
  and circumstances that present barriers to
  opportunities, resources and networks that
  would strengthen families and improve their
  economic, educational, and health status
• Build upon the process, findings and lessons
  learned from previous Annie E. Casey
  Foundations rural initiatives, expanding the
  base of knowledge regarding programs and
  policies
• Increase the amount of attention paid to rural
  families in poverty in policy discussions

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Methods

• Quantitative Data were collected in both Arkansas
  and Oklahoma that
• Corresponded with the data collected in
  previous Annie E. Casey rural initiatives, for
  comparison purposes
• Would present statistics relative to families
  in
  poverty
• Supported focus group comments
• Would support dialogue for change

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Methods, continued

• Qualitative Data were collected in both
  states by
• Conducting 7 focus groups (4 in OK and 3 in AR)
  Oklahoma conducted one youth-only focus group
• Conducting 39 key informant interviews with key
  leaders, policymakers and stakeholders,
  including school superintendents, counselors,
  DHS workers, health providers, business owners
  and legislators
• Conducting 2 in-home field studies with parents
  living below poverty

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Oklahoma/Arkansas Qualitative Data Collection
SitesFocus Group and Key Informant Interviews
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Focus Group Demographics
7 Focus Groups Total participants 75 (8-18 in
each group) 6 adult groups Average age 30.5
years 1 youth only focus group Average age
14.9 years Racial make-up White 53.3
Non-Hispanic Origin 84 American
Indian 20.0 Hispanic Origin
16 African American 17.3 Not recorded
9.3 Gender Male 24 Female 76
Marital Status Currently Married 58.1
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Key Informant Interviews
Total Key Informant Interviews 39 12 in
Arkansas, 27 in Oklahoma Predominantly male
(61.5) Predominantly White (97.4) Comprised
of Health professionals, school personnel,
business owners, state legislators, bankers, law
enforcement personnel, ministers, service
providers, service agency executives, judges and
mayors Field Analysis Two field interviews were
conducted in the homes of two mothers living in
extreme poverty in a rural Oklahoma community.
Both were American Indians in their forties, with
a total of eleven children between them.
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Emerging Themes
Economics of Rural Life Social
Concerns Employment Substance Abuse Retail
Services Race and Class Prejudice Transportati
on Teen Pregnancy Housing Rural
Society Services and Supports Quality of
Life Child Care Community Leadership Medical
and Health Churches-Faith Community
Services Recreation and Entertainment Parental
Involvement Education
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EconomicsAverage Unemployment Rate
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Rural Society Religion
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Social Concerns and EducationDisconnected Youth
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Services and SupportsMedical and Health
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Differences Rural Initiatives Nationally

• The themes from the Rural Kids Count Project
  coincided with those in the other rural
  initiatives with AECF, with a few exceptions
• Social concerns in Oklahoma and Arkansas
  communities took prominence in the discussions.
  Issues such as substance abuse (methamphetamine,
  alcohol, cocaine), teen pregnancy and prejudice
  (racial/class), were often and readily addressed
  as problematic in the communities.
• Corruption in political structure and law
  enforcement was another issue area that emerged
  in OK and AR
• Individuals did not voice discontent with
  banksconsidered it a non-issue, as most said
  they didnt use them

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Differences Rural Initiatives Nationally,cont.

• As for child carethey couldnt afford it, the
  flexibility was a barrier, so they relied on
  family and friends
• Inadequate Emergency Room care was a strong
  concern in our states
• We did see several adult children still living
  with their parents (even though they, themselves
  are parents) which we thought notingoften the
  results of that continuing cycle of poverty.

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Challenges

• Rural/Urban children and youth experience many of
  the same challenges, however, the issues are
  often exacerbated if living in rural areas.
• Isolation
• Transportation
• Educational opportunities
• Cultural opportunities
• Entertainment/recreational opportunities
• Access to health and other services

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Rural Challenge Affordable Rent
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Similarities with Non-Rural

• As one key informant so aptly stated
• All children have needs. It doesnt matter
  where you live, you still need love, the
  necessities of life and an education.
• Children from impoverished families, whether
  urban or rural
• Experience fewer opportunities (educational,
  recreational or enrichment activities)
• Have limited health care
• Are exposed to the same social concerns (teen
  pregnancy, drugs/alcohol/tobacco abuse,
  prejudice)

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Recommendations

• Recommendations are designed to be a starting
  point for policy discussions and options for
  action in the areas of Employment, Social
  Concerns, Medical and Health Care, Education,
  Services and Supports.
• Examples
• Employment
• Support business development incentives for
  rural areas
• Provide job training and skill development
  opportunities for young people
• Social Concerns
• Encourage programs in rural areas that
  provide positive adult mentors for children and
  youth
• Provide opportunities for youth to engage in
  meaningful volunteer service and leadership
  development in their communities

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Recommendations,cont.

• Medical and Health Care
• Introduce health care into nontraditional
  settings, grocery stores and libraries
• Educate rural residents about available
  health coverage, such as Childrens Health
  Insurance Programs (CHIP)
• Education
• Add money management and consumer education
  programs to rural school curriculum
• Provide adult education to rural residents
  seeking new employment, including career
  counseling and ESL classes
• Services and Supports
• Promote funding for programs that subsidize
  vehicle ownership in rural areas
• Promote fair lending practices in rural areas

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For More Information
Anne Roberts Oklahoma Institute for Child
Advocacy 420 N.W. 13th, Suite 101 Oklahoma City,
OK 73103 Phone [phone]
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Special Thanks
Harmon County
Choctaw County
Harper County
Seminole County