[ad_1]
How will students and their families get by after the pandemic-era supports that buoyed their households and our communities disappear? Nevada’s low-income students and families continue to be the hardest hit by the aftershocks of the pandemic, global supply chain disruptions and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis fueled by inflation.
At the onset of the national emergency declared in the wake of COVID-19, various support systems and investments were implemented to alleviate the acute financial pressures predominantly faced by students of color and students from families experiencing poverty. Nevada was hit particularly hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our students and families were vulnerable to the economic stressors that followed. Families that might not have suffered in the past suddenly found themselves unable to make rent, pay their bills or consistently put food on the table.
Now, many of the programs that families depended on have either been drastically reduced or eliminated altogether. In the current economic climate where household budgets are under strain from increased rents, groceries, fuel and more, and under- or unemployment, children and families are experiencing a “perfect storm” of compounding conditions. Older siblings are assuming child care responsibilities for younger siblings. Many are entering the workforce to supplement household income. These realities mean missed learning that provide a gateway to economic mobility. With improved medical treatments and vaccines, the virus itself may be more manageable, but the subsequent economic stress and mental health aftershocks are still deeply felt.
With a reach of 1 in 4 Title I schools throughout Nevada, at Communities In Schools we see hope when students and families have the guidance and resources they need to thrive. Evidence-based interventions such as Communities In Schools’ Integrated Student Support program on 108 school campuses throughout the state can help surround students with a community of support even when the broader social safety net is fraying.
Throughout the past few years, families have seen increased support from the federal government as they raise children, including free meals for students, automatic Medicaid re-enrollment, housing protections, child care assistance and the augmented child tax credit. Combined, these measures prevented many families from falling deeper into poverty, providing space for their children to focus on their education during an exceedingly challenging school year as many reacclimated to in-person instruction.
Unfortunately, a recent report shows that child poverty rates have more than doubled in 2022. The data show the impact — and the experiences and stories of those we serve at Communities In Schools validates these numbers every day.
Food insecurity
One of the most fundamental needs, child nutrition, was of critical concern during the pandemic. Families who might not have faced food insecurity were forced to navigate a complicated web of support systems that were not designed to address the demand they were facing. If students were not in school every day, how could they receive the meals they counted on?
Before the pandemic, almost 70 percent of students in Nevada received free or reduced-price meals at school. The American Rescue Plan (H.R. 1319) provided funding for students in Nevada to receive free school breakfasts and lunches, which will end after the 2023-2024 school year. CIS, in partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Three Square, Serving Our Kids and other partners across the state, bridges the gap students and their families face through weekend meal programs and on-campus grocery giveaways.
Programs can alleviate inequities, but they alone cannot solve them. Policy changes and investment are key components to a robust social safety net. Site coordinators in Southern Nevada have seen hungry children become grumpy and not open to learning opportunities. We ask a lot of our students inside and outside the classroom but how can we expect them to reach for the stars if they do not know where or when they will get their next meal?
Medicaid and access to health care
The pandemic magnified the importance of mental health support for students who faced unprecedented emotional stressors. However, as attention shifts away from the pandemic, it’s important that mental health support continue to be a focus for policymakers, nonprofit leaders and philanthropists.
During the emergency response to the pandemic, the ability for the students and their families to automatically re-enroll in Medicaid addressed one of the many barriers kids faced to access health care resources in Nevada. Automatic re-enrollment in Medicaid ended March 31, 2023, and the Nevada Division of Insurance estimated that nearly 200,000 Nevadans lost their health benefits overnight.
Housing affordability and evictions
A safeguard put in place during the pandemic was rental assistance and protection from evictions. With Nevadans suffering disproportionate job losses and financial instability, many families faced the looming threat of homelessness. Eviction moratoriums and rental assistance programs provided vital temporary relief, ensuring that children and families could remain in their homes during a time of immense uncertainty.
However, as these protections expired, families found themselves vulnerable once again to the harsh realities of eviction. Housing instability has cascading effects on students’ educational attainment as the stress and upheaval of losing a home can hinder their academic progress. The Home Means Nevada initiative sought to increase the low and middle-income housing available and preserve existing housing in those categories.
Child Tax Credit
Another form of support for families was the enhanced Child Tax Credit. This credit, expanded to provide greater financial relief during the pandemic, eased the financial burdens on many families, offering them a means to cover basic expenses and allow their children to focus on their education.
As this enhancement expired, basic necessities fell out of financial reach for many families, limiting students’ opportunities for growth and development. Students who do not have their basic needs met at home struggle to perform their best in school and are often expected to shoulder a part of the economic burden facing families. With the sting of inflation coupled with the loss of this necessary supplement for families, household budgets are fraying and nonprofits are feeling that impact directly in demand for services.
Integrated student support
Before the pandemic, many students in Nevada came to school with myriad needs, affecting their sense of belonging and physical and mental well-being, and ultimately their academic performance. The severity of the economic crisis suffered in Nevada enhances the direness of the situation students and their families face.
The end of pandemic-era supports has far-reaching consequences for students and their families. It threatens to widen the educational achievement gap, exacerbate preexisting disparities and perpetuate cycles of poverty. To mitigate these effects, it is crucial for policymakers, educational institutions and communities to recognize the value Integrated Student Support can provide our children and families.
Organizations such as Communities In Schools of Nevada, along with its partner network of community organizations, government agencies and private funders, ensure students receive equitable access to education, mental health support and basic necessities. By recognizing the interconnectedness of these challenges, actively working to bridge the gaps and advocating for sustained integrated student support, we at CIS can ensure that all of Nevada’s students have a chance to thrive regardless of their current economic circumstances.
Debbie Palacios is the executive director of Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada, which serves 80 schools in the Clark County School District. Before joining CIS in 2021, Palacios held a range of educational positions at CCSD for 14 years and served as the director of family and community engagement services for three years.
Nicole Willis-Grimes is the executive director of Communities In Schools of Western Nevada, which serves 13 schools in Washoe County School District. Before joining CIS in 2021, Willis-Grimes was the director of government affairs for a public affairs and public relations firm in Reno.
Leslie Goicoechea is the interim executive director of Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada, which serves 15 schools in the Humboldt and Elko county school districts. Goicoechea has been with CIS for seven years.
The Nevada Independent welcomes informed, cogent rebuttals to opinion pieces such as this. Send them to [email protected].
[ad_2]
Source link