Join the solutions to poverty (SToP) movement

Dear Editor,

Acting together as concerned citizens, we will address a chronic problem that is more pressing now than ever before. This problem affects hundreds of thousands of Louisiana families, costs uncontrolled millions of dollars, destroys our children’s potential and tarnishes our state’s image.

This problem is poverty.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey, approximately 864,277 Louisianans, or 20 percent of the state’s population of 4.4 million, live in poverty. Through a one-of-its-kind movement joining grassroots stakeholders with state and federal partners, Solutions to Poverty (SToP) is making strides in alleviating poverty in Louisiana, and we need your help.

During the birth of the SToP movement in 2004, education was identified as the No. 1 solution. We are grateful to Gov. Kathleen Blanco for her commitment to education and the $700 million new budget investment, especially $30 million for pre-kindergarten.

In other legislation backed by SToP, the governor recently signed into law two powerful new tools for fighting poverty in Louisiana: a School Readiness Tax Credit for quality child care and a state Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor.

The SToP movement, led by the Department of Social Services’ Office of Family Support (OFS) has created a statewide network of programs to help our fragile families achieve self-sufficiency. More than 10,000 Louisiana citizens have signed up so far to participate in this three-pronged effort:

• Community: Grassroots stakeholders in all 64 parishes seek to identify and own solutions.

• Policy: These groups create initiative and suggest program improvements that enhance quality of life.

• Legislation: Community organizers are mobilized for lobbyists for legislation that helps citizens move from poverty into self-sufficiency.

SToP solutions include promotion and implementation of the following program components: the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the School Readiness Tax Credit, the Individual Development Account program, the Quality Rating System, the Microenterprise Development program, the Head Start Collaboration project, the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention initiative.

Poverty affects all of us, and everyone can be a part of the solution. To join the grassroots effort to eradicate poverty in Louisiana, contact OFS staff Kim Lacour at (225) 342-6030.

Adren Wilson,

Assistance Secretary, Office of Family Support

Department of Social Services