Several weeks ago, I addressed the Maine Legislature’s Children’s Caucus as a member of the organization Mission Readiness, which advocates for state and federal programs that lead to better outcomes for our kids, reduces crime, strengthens national security, and builds a better workforce. Mission Readiness is an organization of more than 750 retired admirals and […]
The COVID-19 pandemic offers policymakers the opportunity to rethink early childhood education and childcare in America, and to do a better job of aligning services with the needs and preferences of families. The availability of suitable childcare affordable and convenient with adequate hours in a desirable environment is a key component of economic recovery, where working parents no longer have to reduce their hours or quit their jobs.
Over the past several years, there has been a robust debate over the best way to reduce child poverty in the U.S. One point of view believes that poverty is fundamentally a problem of limited income; therefore, the best way to reduce poverty is to redistribute income through government programs. The other point of view suggests that, while limited income is certainly a defining feature, poverty is the product of other problems, such as inadequate education, family structure, and detachment from the labor force.
Every year, the federal government spends billions of dollars on social programs that are intended to help at-risk individuals, who are vulnerable to poverty and dependence on government safety-net programs, achieve self-sufficiency. Leading examples include employment and training programs ($18.9 billion in federal spending in fiscal year 2019); substance abuse treatment programs ($10.5 billion in FY 2017); and recidivism reduction programs ($68 million in FY 2015).
TELL CITY — The Perry County Development Corporation (PCDC) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Erin Emerson as President and CEO of the organization.