The Recession Affects Children Too

“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” –Gandhi

We read about more and more people losing jobs, more and more families losing homes, the cash-strapped transportation system, increased health care costs and more. However, what about the impact of the recession on children? No one ever mentions the children. This large population didn’t do anything to contribute to society’s current issues and, yet, they are often the most punished. 
 
The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released its 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which tracks the well-being of children at the national, state and local levels using indicators in the areas of education, employment and income, health, poverty and youth risk factors. It is no surprise that South Carolina continues to rank in the bottom. This new data revealed that one out of every four children live in poverty. 
 
The problem that is too often overlooked is the affect of the recession on children. The question is how are we―as a community, as a state―going to address these numbers. More importantly, how are we going to move South Carolina’s children and families out of poverty?
 
The Annie E. Casey Foundation identified a two-generation strategy for addressing families living in poverty, to simultaneously help parents put their families on a path to economic success and help children’s social, emotional cognitive and physical development from birth. In its report the foundation identifies public policies that may make the difference to the families and the country. When it comes to helping parents succeed, the foundation recognizes: the importance of addressing Unemployment Insurance and promoting foreclosure prevention and remediation efforts; strengthening existing programs that supplement poverty-level wages, offset the high cost of child care and provide health insurance coverage for parents and children; and promote savings, protect assets and help families gain financial knowledge and skills. The foundation’s approach to address policy issues impacting children include: promoting responsible parenthood and ensuring mothers-to-be receive prenatal care; making sure that children are developmentally ready to succeed in school; and promoting reading proficiency by the end of third grade. While this may not be the answer for South Carolina and may not even cover all that is needed, it is a good starting point as we begin to understand our role and what we can do. 
 
Children makeup 23% of South Carolina and 100% of the future. They are our country’s future leaders. Today’s children will make all of this state’s and this country’s future decisions in the global economy. To prepare our children, we need to focus on the economic opportunities of families and improve the education and well-being of children.
 
It is up to all of us. It is up to businesses, church congregations, community leaders, government, nonprofit organizations, service providers and volunteers to see that they are equipped for this future. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone has a stake in our state’s future. And our future is dependent on our children.  

Brooke Bailey is the director of communications and public policy for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Today’s New Reality

As a nonprofit organization, you have been successful for many years. You have raised millions of dollars from an array of sources. You are well respected in the community and are doing wonderful things to help many people in need. Then, in 2008, the recession hits and the game changes. Grant funds from government and private funders begin to dwindle. Individual donors become reluctant to give because their own investment portfolios have suffered and dropped significantly. Your income drops by 50% in a one-year period. The demand for your services increases by 150% due to the recession. This is your new reality.

You are not alone; nonprofits throughout the country are faced with this new reality. It is the start of a tornado of events. First, there is panic. You start calling funders and begging for an exception to the grants process and try to convince them of the urgency of your situation. They are sympathetic but cannot change their processes just for you. You frantically search for other funding sources at the federal and state level.  There are a few options but the timing is not good and the competition fierce. It is a long shot for you. You call current and past donors to convince them of your urgent situation but their resources are limited and they are not much help, if help at all. You meet with big businesses and corporations to try and get support but they too are strapped. This is your new reality.

The fact of the matter is today’s new reality means less money for all. It also means you must operate your nonprofit with maximum efficiency by cutting costs, reducing services, using more volunteers and, if necessary, downsizing your operation. This is not good news but it is the truth. There are no quick fixes or easy solutions for today’s nonprofit leaders. One thing is clear though, business as usual is a recipe for failure. You must be creative, strategic and malleable if you want to survive today. This goes for small and large nonprofits. Better times may lie ahead but you have to get to those better times to be able to benefit from them.

Today’s new reality is not the end of the world. It is seeing the world in another way and figuring out how to utilize your skills and the tools available to you to find better ways to be successful. Anything is possible if you can find your niche and focus your efforts differently. Be willing to try new things and create new relationships. Nonprofit leaders are resilient and they are warriors. Go fight the tough battles of today’s new reality and come back a winner. After all, that is why we are in this business in the first place; to fight for the benefit of others in need, even if we have to reinvent ourselves to get there.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina