Tenacity, teamwork are necessary

Help is available.

We’ve learned that to be true over the last several months as we’ve worked on and published our series of stories on child poverty in Jay County.

While we’re certain not all bases are covered — there’s always more that could be done to help — there are many resources available for those dealing with poverty.

For food, there are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), food banks, food tailgates, free and reduced lunches and community meals.

For educational resources, there are programs like Head Start and Kids’ Hope.

For health care, there is Medicaid, Hoosier Healthwise, Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women and other ways organizations like Jay County Hospital can help.

Groups provide a variety of additional resources, like school or personal hygiene supplies, that may be difficult for families dealing with poverty to acquire for their children.

But helping children who are in poverty is only part of the equation, because the ultimate goal is not just to help them deal with the issue but to reduce the percentage of those in poverty.

That effort is dependent on helping Jay County residents earn more money to get them above the poverty line of $24,600 for a family of four (and an additional $4,180 for each additional family member).

Achieving the goal will take require dedication and persistence. Our community has already taken steps in the right direction.

The Jay County Promise program to encourage savings for post-secondary education is one of those steps. Study after study shows education levels have a direct link to income.

Another positive move is the addition of an industrial maintenance training program at John Jay Center for Learning. It will help prepare local residents for jobs in area industries.

We also already put a focus, through Jay County Development Corporation, on retaining the jobs we have and encouraging those companies to expand.

But given our consistently high rate of child poverty, we must still do more.

Perhaps local government units need to take a hard look at their policies on tax abatements. Should they only be granted to those companies that are willing to offer a certain wage level?

We need to keep fighting the local drug problem, and providing resources for those seeking to recover from addiction. Drug abuse and poverty are directly connected.

And communities should continue to take up initiatives that will make them attractive to both college graduates and to companies that offer higher wages. That means up-to-date infrastructure, quality schools and increased amenities.

The challenge is that there are no simple answers to fighting poverty.

But if we face the problem and work together, we can make progress toward what we all hope for:

Better lives, and less poverty, for the next generation. — R.C.