5v - »V« » *-v**r< # t 1 >> W*T*< / r « »-« #■* . DEC. 16, 1998 Page A5 (Ebe ^Jortlanh (0hsem er A c tiv itie s for Kids H e r e a re so m e “ I m ad e it m y s e lf!” g ift id ea s K w a n z a a G ifts K w a n za a N e c k la c e s D y e th re e g ro u p s o f m o sta c io lli n o o d le s re d , g ree n a n d b la c k w ith a lc o h o l an d fo o d c o lo rin g ( y o u ca n g e t b la c k fo o d c o lo rin g at c ra ft sto re s in th e c a k e -d e c o ra tin g s e c tio n ). L et dry . G iv e ea c h c h ild a p ie c e o f y a m w ith a sm a ll p ie c e o f m a s k in g ta p e w ra p p e d a ro u n d o n e end. L et e a c h c h ild strin g th e c o lo re d n o o d le s. K w a n z a a P ia c e m a ts L et th e c h ild re n try th is v e r sio n o f A fric a n c lo th d y e in g to m a k e p la c e m a ts fo r s n a c k tim e. D rib b le ru b b e r c e m e n t in d e s ig n s on s h e e ts o f w h ite c o n stru c tio n p ap e r. A llo w th e g lu e to d ry fo r a b o u t h a l f an h o u r. T h en b ru sh p a in t o v e r th e glue. W h e n th e p a in t h a s d rie d , p ee l o f f th e ru b b e r c e m e n t to rev e al th e d e s ig n s th e c h ild re n h av e c r e a te d . H a n u k k a h G ifts D r e id e ls F o ld d o w n to p s o f m ilk c a r to n s to fo rm b o x e s . M ix a little g lu e w ith p a in t. L e t c h ild re n p a in t th e b o x e s , a n d let dry . P o k e a p e n c il th ro u g h e a c h b o x fro m th e to p d o w n w a rd , so th e p o in t is o n th e b o tto m . parf- Three: A Time For Success For Caucasian Youth a n y o f th e e s s e n tia l th in g s th at C a u ca sia n y o u n g p e o p le n ee d in o rd er to th riv e a re m is sin g from th e ir lives. T h a t’s th e co n c lu sio n o f a su rv e y that in c lu d ed 5 ,7 1 6 C a u ca sia n six th , eig h th an d ten th g rad e stu d e n ts (as part o f a s u r v ey o f 10,000 stu d e n ts o v era ll) w ith in M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty . T h e su rv e y m e a su re d th e p rese n ce o f 40 assets o r b u ild in g b lo c k s th a t all y o u n g p eo p le need to g ro w u p h e a lth y , c a rin g an d co m p e te n t. O n a v e ra g e , as o u r su rv ey rev e ale d , lo cal C a u c a sia n youth h av e o n ly 19 o f th e se 4 0 assets, le av in g them v u ln e ra b le to m an y p ro b lem s. N o w th a t w e k n o w th a t, w h at d o w e d o ? W e ll, as this rese arch re p o rt re v e a ls, y o u c a n d o a g rea t deal. F o r e x a m p le , m o st C a u c a sia n y o u th say th e ir fa m i lies p ro v id e a h ig h le v el o f lo v e a n d su p p o rt, b u t to o fe w rec eiv e su p p o rt fro m o th e r a d u lts, o r sa y th e y h a v e c a rin g n eig h b o rs. A s c o m m u n ity m e m b e r s w e n eed to sh o w y o u n g p e o p le w e ca re a b o u t th em . W h ile m o re th a n h a lf o f o u r y o u n g p eo p le se rv e in th e c o m m u n ity , less th an a th ird sa y y o u n g p e o p le are g iv en u se fu l ro les. W e can p ro v id e th o se ro le s fo r o u r yo u th . O u r y o u n g p e o p le are m o tiv ate d to d o w ell in sc h o o l, b u t a m i n o rity fin d th e ir sc h o o ls p ro v id e a c a rin g , e n c o u ra g in g e n v iro n m e n t. M 4 profile o f Caucasian Youth by Multnomah Commission on Children & Families W hat do w e know about C a u c a sia n y o u th ? W e k n o w m o st see a p o sitiv e fu tu re fo r th e m s e lv e s . W e k n o w m o s t h a v e in te g rity an d a c c e p t p e r so n a l re sp o n sib ility . W e k n o w m a n y a re m o tiv a te d to d o w ell in sc h o o l. T h e ir in n e r s tre n g th s an d a ttitu d e s c o n tra d ic t th e m y th th a t y o u n g p e o p le sim p ly d o n ’t c a re . M o st h a v e p e e rs w h o m o d e l resp o n sib le b eh a v io r and m a n y a re in v o lv e d in c o m m u n ity serv ice a n d th e ir re lig io u s c o m m u n itie s . T h e y a re e n g a g e d in sc h o o l, c a re a b o u t o th e rs, sta n d up fo r w h at th ey b e lie v e in , a n d th o s e in n e r s tre n g th s a llo w th e m to see a b rig h t fu tu re fo r th em selv es. C a u c a sia n y o u th co n tin u e to b e lie v e a n d to c a re an d to h o p e e v e n as th e y la c k su p p o rt th a t ca n v irtu a lly g u a ra n te e s u c cess. W h ile C a u casian y o u th h av e m a n y in n e r stren g th s, th ey s u f fer b e c a u s e th e y d o n ’t h av e e n o u g h ad u lt in v o lv e m e n t in th e ir lives. In n er stren g th is n ’t e n o u g h - y o u n g p e o p le sim p ly c a n ’t do it all on th e ir ow n. T h e v ast m a jo rity o f C a u c a sian y o u th sa y a d u lts d o n ’t v a lu e y o u n g p eo p le. M o st say th ey d o n ’t h av e a p o sitiv e ad u lt ro le m o d e l. M an y sa y th ey d o n ’t h av e c a rin g n eig h b o rs. T h e se are th in g s a d u lts can h e lp to fix. O u r y outh need p aren ts, rela tiv es, n eig h b o rs, sc h o o ls, m e m b ers o f th e relig io u s c o m m u n ity , an d co m m u n ity m e m b ers w ho b eliev e in them . T h ey n eed ad u lts w h o w ill take the tim e to help them su cceed. T h ro u g h this su rv ey , w e d is co v e red that m ost o f o u r y o u n g p eo p le feel they h av e fam ily su p p o rt an d love, b ut th e m a jo rity say s th e ir fam ily d o e s n ’t co m m u n ic ate w ell. F ar too few feel th e co m m u n ity cares ab o u t th e ir su c ce ss o r failure. W h ile y o u n g p e o p le ca re ab o u t le arn in g and w e k n o w th e ir sch o o l e n v iro n m en t can h av e an en o rm o u s im p a c t on sh ap in g th e ir sk ills and am b itio n s, too few h av e parents w h o a re in v o lv e d in th e ir ed u c a tion. O n the average, C aucasian youth h av e ju st 19 o f the 4 0 assets they need, but it d o esn ’t have to stay that w ay. T here are things w e can do to provide our youth w ith p o si tive role m odels, and to show our interest in the success o f every C aucasian young person.T his im portant research show s that for o u r C aucasian young peo p le to succeed, w e m ust take the tim e to show them w e care for them , take the tim e to com m unicate w ith them, and take the tim e to support them . B y doing so, w e give o u r youth the assets they need to succeed.T his research w as co n d u cted b y the M ultnom ah C om m ission on C h il dren and Fam ilies. T o order ad d i tional reports, call th e T ak e th e T im e L in e at 5 0 3 /2 4 8 -5 0 6 6 . ortland Center Stage In Support O f Outreach rograms, Local Charities Ztonts n the spirit o f C h arles D ickens p art o f th is effo rt, PC S w ill h o st a and A C h ristm as C aro l, P o rt h o lid a y clo th in g d riv e to b en efit land C e n te r S tag e in v ites its p a local w o m en ’s and ch ild ren ’sch ari- tro n s to take part in a sp ecial ev e n t ties. P atrons w h o w ish to p artici to b e n e fit p ro g ra m s fo r a t-risk p ate m ay b rin g an u n w rap p ed item o f w arm clo th in g (su ch as socks, youth and u nderp riv ileg ed fam ilies in the P ortlan d co m m u n ity . g lo v es, o r co ats) to th e N ew m a rk T he F ezziw ig F am ily Feast, ta k T h ea tre lobby o f the P o rtlan d C e n te r fo r the P erfo rm in g A rts an y ing place on S unday, D ecem b er 13 in conjunction w ith the th e a tre ’s tim e d u rin g the run o f A C h ristm as n e w p r o d u c ti o n o f C h a r l e s C aro l (D e ce m b er th ro u g h Jan u ary 2 nd). D ro p - o f f c e n te rs w ill b e D ic k e n s’ A C h ristm as C a ro l, w ill b en e fit P C S ’s o u treach p ro g ram s p resen t in th e b u ild in g . Ju lie V ig elan d , C h a ir o fth e PCS b y p ro v id in g o v er 500 c o m p lim e n B o ard o f D irecto rs, said , “ T his tary tickets to youth an d fam ilies in ev en t o ffers a w o n d erfu l o p p o rtu th e co m m u n ity th ro u g h a v ariety n ity for the PC S fam ily to sh a re the o f service agencies. T ic k ets to the h o lid ay and this d elig h tfu l p ro d u c event, w hich in clu d es th e p e rfo r tion w ith m o re m em b ers o f the m an ce in the N ew m ark T h eatre c o m m u n ity th an o th e rw ise p o s an d su p p e r/e n te rta in m e n t at th e sible. A nd in th e sp irit o f D ickens, H ilton H otel, co st $ 100 for adults, w h o presented readings o f A C h rist $50 for ch ild ren u n d er 16. F o r m as C arol to b en e fit ch a rity , w e tickets, p lease call 274-6586. are pleased to h elp keep n eig h b o r In addition, p artn ersh ip s w ith h o o d ch ild ren w arm and d ry this local retailers w ill p ro v id e w arm w in te r.” clo th in g for fam ilies in need. A s I Apple Juice A-La- Mode 8ounces M artinelli’s Sparkling Cider 1 scoop o f vanilla ice cream w hipped cream cinnam on to taste nutm eg Blend ingredients together, garnish w ith w hipped cream and sprinkle o f nutm eg; serve in a glass w ith a w edge o f apple (for extra appeal, serve inside a cored apple). M akes 1 drink. 4 Christmas Carol is playing through January 2 at Newmark Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway. After Welfare, Many Families Fare Worse Bv M a r ia n W k ig u t E d elm an At the beginning o f this month, the Children’s Defense Fund and the na tional coalition for the Hom eless re leased a joint report show ing w hat’s happening to families leaving the wel fare rolls. Families on welfare are de creasing, as President Clinton the Congress, and the states insisted they must. O ver 3.8 million parents and children have left w elfare since the signingofthe 1996 law. But very much as we had feared, up to h alf o f the families leaving welfare do not have jobs. Among welfare recipients find- ingjobs by March 1998,71% eam less than $250 a week, w hich his the pov erty level for a family o f three. The passage and signing o f the welfare law in the 1996 election year has left too m any families struggling to get food shelter, or needed medical care. Inm any cities, one in 10 families in homeless shelters say they are there because o f welfare cuts. W ithout help like child care, transportation, train ing, and wage supplements, too many families are trying to survive on very low wages, and extreme poverty is growing m ore com m on for children, especially those in female-headed and working families. T henum berofchil- dren living in families earning below one-half o f the poverty line $ 16,401 a year for a 3-person family) increased from 6 million in 1995 to 6.4 million in 1997. T hat’s 400,000 more children nationwide plunged into deep pov erty. Stop and look at those numbers again. T hey’re not ju st statistics in a newspaper. They are children - poor children who are twice as likely as non poor children to be b om at low birth weight and/or repeat a grade in school, poor children who will score lower on reading and math tests and suffer more mental and physical disabilities. They can be expected to earn 25% lower wages as adults. Families who leave welfare are in creasingly unable to pay their rent. Some have been evicted from their homes or apartm ents and if they can find housing at all their children will m ost likely have to change schools. C h ild ren w ho m o v e an d change schools frcquentl y score lower on read ing and math tests and are m ore prone to drop out o f school. A nd m ost o f those families not finding a job or unable to get a jo b that wi 11 pay livable wages, and not nearly enough to pay for quality child care - or any child care? Homeless children suffer higher infant mortality, asthma, chronic diar rhea, delayed imm unizations, family separation, and m issed school. What kind o f future does this predict for our country when our m ost precious re source, our children, are growing to adulthood so burdened and handi capped? W hat kind o f society are we that we can read about children sick, hungry, endangered, and otherw ise tortured by poverty, and allow it to be so ? There are horror stories every where. Long waiting lists forchildcare assistance in Texas left30,000 families w aiting for help. And even when help is available, m any moving from w el fare to work are not aware they can qualify for it, and not familiar enough with the laws to fight bureaucratic m istakes. In Utah, according to a re The crises many families are facing and will face as time limits loom can and must he avoided. We simply cannot condemn millions o f children to such suffering. tired state welfare adm inistrator, h alf ofthe fam iliescut o ff from welfare had reasons that they could not im m edi ately go to work, but their problem s were not identified and addressed. O ne m other cut o ff had a disability herself, no transportation, and was caring for her4-year-old son who had neuro fibrom atosis. M any states that created innova tive and supportive program s to help families find stable, above-poverty em ploym ent. I applaud the efforts o f Rhode Island, w hich provides child care help for all families with incomes up to 185% o f the poverty line; an Illinois policy that reduces but does not elim inate cash assistance to re cipients w ho w ork at very low wages; a Federal program operating in several states that locates child care at conve nient transportation hubs; and a C ali fornia program that provides access to com m unity colleges for jo b train ing. There are answers, and I implore our federal, state, and local govern ments to implement sim ilar programs, as well as the following changes: * Allow education and training to count tow ards the work requirement; * G ive states the flexibility to use federal welfare fiinds to pay partial benefits when families work at least half-time, without those months count ing towards the fam ily’s time limit; * Invest more federal and state funds in quality child care and * Invest in more federal housing subsidies to address the housing needs o f a record 5.3 million house holds w ho pay more than h alf their incomes for rent and/or live in sub standard housing. i V