According to the U.S. Census Bureau, poor looks like two adults and three children getting by on less than $ 26,023. Or a single parent and one child living on an annual income under $ 15,030. In fact, 15% of Americans live in poverty. And according to the National Center for Children in Poverty, one in five U.S. children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
Raising young children who are healthy and school-ready under these conditions can be challenging. That’s where Parents as Teachers comes in. To better equip parent educators, those who bring support directly to parents through home visits, Parents as Teachers offers a number of professional training opportunities that take a deeper look at issues like poverty and other struggles families face.
We recently offered parent educators the opportunity to experience a month in poverty through a poverty simulation presented at our national conference by Michigan State University Extension. Participants found it deeply impacted them and opened their eyes to new ways they can support families in their communities.
