“Women's group digs into Missouri data to
advocate for pay and child care”
St. Louis Post Dispatch, January 29, 2015
A local women’s group, The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City, works with statistics relating to the status of Missouri women with a goal to gain a better understanding of women in the state including health, education, income, child care, public service, and poverty. The data collected was utilized to educate legislators and leaders in regards to women’s needs and to the short falls of our current state policies. The article highlights the specific shortfall to single mothers in regards to differentiation in income and child care. The next step for the group is to create a policy agenda as well as taking the data collected out into the communities to talk with leaders within those communities to cater specific change based on their specific needs. All in all, the goal to better the lives of women.
In our text, it is stated as social workers, at the micro level, we have a responsibility to initiate change with in the macro level. What is your take on this and what steps can we take as social workers within the micro level to advocate for change at the macro level?
Thanks for sharing this article. I had no idea that something like his group was working in Missouri. I would love to see more social workers from all levels of practice engaging with this platform within their own communities to lighten the burden on underpaid single mothers.
ReplyDeleteCertainly some of the biggest obstacles to women achieving economic independence are lack of access to education, lack of cost-effective and competent child care and lower pay in the private sector (which itself hinders affordability of the first two).As more women become CEOs, I hope they institute some policy changes that take into account a woman's value to society, the economy and the organization. On the micro level, I think it behooves us to prepare the client for success within the system that exists while at the same time trying to reorient that system to better reflect societal needs. - Kerry Manderbach
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Amanda. As social workers, I think it is important that we are aware of current legislation so that we are able to assist our clients on a micro level. For instance, it would be helpful to have current knowledge about the Affordable Care Act since that is a major topic right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article was very interesting, espcially since I am currently in the social policy class now. It is important as social workers we have a passion for what we are advocating for and that we are able to reach and teach others about the issues that are affecting our community and what we are doing to try a solve the problem
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