Conversations on Poverty

       My conversation partner for this assignment is Natasha Bigl. She is the Family and Community Partnership Coordinator for a non profit that collaborates with local agencies to access services and assistance for children and families.  Our conversation centered around the difficulties of collaborating with community partners that have binding but arbitrary regulations guiding the community members they chose to serve.

 
       For example, there was a recent issue involving a high need for a family. All of the local agencies refuse to serve the family because they live in a area of "problems." This area consists of deep poverty and families of significant need. The agencies have a set procedure for service that involves a intake home visit. They will not serve these families because they fear the home visit to this area. However, they will not modify their intake process to exclude the home visit even with an agency vouching for the family.  This is just one of many organizations that refuse to serve this neighborhood.  This is exceptionally frustrating. The agency exists to assist and serve low income families but won't meet the needs of the neediest community in the area.

       We discussed ways of imploring agencies to change policies and procedures to allow services to areas such as these in many cities around the nation.  As many charitable assistance agencies are church sponsored and funded, there are no laws guiding discrimination against these areas. Coordinating agencies such as hers are dependent on these religious organizations to procure everything from food to furniture for families. Therefore, cutting ties with them is simply not an option. Education regarding the need, training on the community's culture, and frequent conversation is key to improving partnerships with the neediest communities.