sociology
Format MLA
Volume of 2 pages (550 words)
Assignment type : Essay
Description
Child Poverty in British Columbia
Statistics of child poverty
Child poverty is the one of the biggest problems in british columbia. The statistics and stories tell us hurting truth about british columbia.we just think that british columbia as a civilised society, but we have the huge problem in this society.there are thousands of children who are living and growing themselves in poverty that hurts their health and rights.
According to first call, they are tracking child and family poverty rates in BC for two decades . there first provincal report card containing for 1996 showed that one in five BC children are poor in2016. These kinds of problems requires policy changes and social investment from our provinical and federal governments.
According to the report of first call BC, child and youth Advocacy coalition , the provincial rate-As of 2014 was 19.8 percent which puts it higher that the national average for youth at the 18.5 percent .
• “The number of poor children in B.C. was 153,000 — enough children to fill the [Vancouver] Canucks’ stadium over eight times,” it said in reference to Rogers Arena, which has 19,000 seats.
First Call’s report card makes 16 recommendations, including increasing and indexing the B.C. minimum wage and welfare rates and adopting a $10-a-day child care program to cut the child poverty rate to seven per cent within the next seven years.
“First Call’s overarching recommendation for B.C. is for government to adopt a comprehensive poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines and a cabinet minister with the authority and responsibility to ensure government is achieving its targets on time,” the report said.
It recommended raising B.C.’s minimum wage to $12 per hour from the current $10.25 an hour. It also recommended indexing future annual minimum wage increases to cost of living increases.
Child Poverty in B.C.
Aim sentence: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that child poverty is a very prominent problem in B.C. and outline what services and programs are being implemented in order to assist those in need.
Define key concepts: The two concepts from the aim that need to be defined are poverty and child.
Poverty:
“In general, poverty is defined either in absolute terms – inability to obtain the necessities of life – or in relative terms – ‘being worse off than average.’ ” (Collin 2008)
Child:
A child is defined as “ an unmarried person under 19 years of age.” (Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation2017).
Organization of arguments:
1. The statistics of children living in poverty are exceptionally high in B.C.
2. Fundamental and leading causes of child poverty are displayed in an ongoing cycle.
3. The effects of impoverishment on children’s livelihood are unfavourable.
4. Solutions to the dilemma of child poverty are complex and haven’t succeeded in the past.
Presentation of arguments
1. Argument 1:The statistics of children living in poverty are exceptionally high in B.C.
1 out of every five children in British Columbia are living under the poverty line.
Evidence:
The numbers are higher than national average with nearly 20% of children in poverty. This fact is supported by Jakovljevic in a 2016 study. Figures were astonishingly higher for First Nations children being over double that amount.
“According to 2006 figures, 48 per cent of First Nations children live in poverty in B.C. and 28 percent of Aboriginal children live in poverty in B.C.” (Narine 2016)
2. Argument 2: Fundamental and leading causes of child poverty are displayed in an ongoing cycle
Low family income the leading characteristic of children living in poverty.
Evidence:
In todays society, minimum wage is not enough for a family, even if you work full-time. As the BC Child Poverty Report Card stated in 2016, minimum wage is not sufficient enough for the cost of living today.
“Two parents, both working full time, full year at this minimum wage, would have earned $37,310, leaving them almost$3,000 below the before-tax poverty line.” (BC Child Poverty Report Card 2016)
3. Argument 3: The effects of impoverishment on children’s livelihood are unfavorable.
Children will encounter negative effects as a result of living in poverty.
Evidence:
Living in poverty makes your more susceptible to physical and mental health conditions. Often times, children lack parent support which therefor results in poor academic achievement. Growing up, the children do not get a well balanced diet and often develop anemia and obesity.
“Child poverty is associated with a wide range of negative health effects, including low birth weight, iron deficiency anemia, asthma, burns and injures, obesity, learning difficulties and mental health issues” (Sharma 2015)
4. Argument 4: Solutions to the dilemma of child poverty are complex and haven’t succeeded in the past.
Programs today have not effectively solved the problem of poverty.
Evidence:
Canadian government has tried numerous programs to assist those in need and have not had significant results. Over the years, the poverty rate has only increased. This is most likely accounted for by the fact that minimum wage has gone up very slowly however the price of living jumps figures every year. British Columbia also has the highest national poverty rates.
“British Columbia, which struggles with the highest child poverty rate in Canada, remains the only province without a commitment to a provincial poverty reduction strategy.” (Sharma 2015)
Conclusion:
Overall, our paper will delve into the foundations of poverty. Also, data will be used to support our key arguments and also show the astonishing reality of poverty. We will then go over the effects of impoverishment on children’s’ livelihood. In conclusion we will analyze programs in place to solve the poverty problem and also construct some suggestions of our own.
References
Howe, R. B., & Covell, K. (2003). Child Poverty in Canada and the Rights of the Child. Human Rights Quarterly, 25(4), 1067-1087. doi:10.1353/hrq.2003.0045
Jakovljevic, I., Miller, A. P., & Fitzgerald, B. (2016). Children’s mental health: Is poverty the diagnosis?. British Columbia Medical Journal, 58(8), 454-460.
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation. (2017, July 20). Definitions. Retrieved October 1, 2017, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/master-lists/definitions-master-list#child\
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation. (2017, July 24). Hardship Assistance. Retrieved October 12, 2017, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/hardship-assistance
Narine, S. (2016). Government systems blame families for their poverty. Windspeaker, 33(10), 7.
National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2017, from https://www.ndacan.cornell.edu/
Official USA Site. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2017, from http://www.savethechildren.org/
Sharma, S., & Ford-Jones, E. (2015). Child poverty. Ways forward for the paediatrician: A comprehensive overview of poverty reduction strategies requiring paediatric support. Paediatrics & Child Health (1205-7088), 20(4), 203-207.
Steckley, J. (2017). Elements of Sociology: A Critical Canadian Introduction. Don Mills, Ontario, Canada: Oxford University Press.
Thomas, C., & Lori, C. (2006). Child Poverty in Canada. Review of Income & Wealth, 52(2), 237-260. doi:0.1111/j.1475-4991.2006.00186.x
