Addressing poverty locally

According to the 2010 census, 15.75 million children lived in poverty in 2010. In Missouri, it is estimated that between 20 percent and 24.9 percent of children lived in poverty.

Childhood poverty costs the U.S. approximately $500 billion yearly. These children are likely to attend school hungry, adversely affecting their learning, IQ and future wages. They are also twice as likely to repeat a grade, be suspended or expelled from school or be high school dropouts.

These children suffer from poor nutrition, unhealthy living environments, lack of immunizations and improper infant care. The rates of juvenile delinquency are also related to poverty.

The government provides safeguards to help children with programs such as WIC, TANF, Food Stamps and the Earned Income Credit. However, the increasing poverty rates show that these programs are not sufficient.

We need to take steps to improve the circumstances of these children. Other routes need to be explored to assist in ending this cycle.

One such method is to establish a parental education program. It is likely that many parents of these children grew up in poverty themselves and lack adequate knowledge of how to improve their way of life.

Our country is in economic turmoil. It is uncertain if the programs on which these families and children rely will survive.

It is imperative that we take a proactive stance and begin dealing with the issue of poverty on a more local and state level.

Let us not stand idly by while they sink deeper into the abyss.

MELODY McCAIG, Steele, Mo.