By Crystal Swann and Jessica Faris, USCM Intern
November 12, 2007

Providence (RI) Mayor David N. Cicilline commissioned a task force last January to investigate how Providence can reduce poverty and increase the quality of life for low-income families in the city. This month the Mayor’s Poverty, Work and Opportunity Task Force concluded its investigation and offered recommendations focused on improving the educational and financial well-being of children, women and minorities.

In the Providence report, “Pathways to Opportunity: Building Prosperity in Providence,” the taskforce presents 5 central goals for the city: helping low-wage workers improve skills and obtain better jobs, connecting youth to college education and quality jobs, increasing access to benefits, support programs and jobs with adequate pay, reducing the high cost of being poor, and preventing poverty in future generations.

The report states that an essential component of success is utilizing and improving programs already in place and forming connections between existing programs. The city can also model new programs after successful best practices throughout the country.

Recommendations for long term prevention revolve around education and skill training for young people and services for young families. Providing universal pre-kindergarten schooling and after'school programs for middle and high school students increases the chances of successful schooling and transition into the workforce. Increasing resources for college and other educational opportunities through high school counseling is necessary so that young adults can obtain post'secondary education. The task force highlights the Chicago Public School District’s model for providing college and financial aid information to students.

The report also states that addressing teen pregnancy is a critical component in long-term preventive assistance. Having a strong anti-teen pregnancy program in schools, as well as support services for teen parents and young families, is essential so that young parents can adequately provide for their families and acquire good parenting abilities. A program focusing on low-income families and single mothers should be available during pregnancy and offer services for a minimum of 2 years after birth.

One concern of the task force is that many low-income families are not aware of all benefits and services available to them. Creating a streamlined and comprehensive on-line system to help families easily determine what assistance programs they qualify for as well as establishing community centers where families could seek personalized help, could help remedy this problem. Other suggestions for reducing poverty provided in the report include curbing predatory financial practices, such as rent-to-own stores, and instituting a living wage.

An example of ways in which Providence can improve current programs and create ties between current programs according to the report, include forming a partnership between the city and the Office of Education in the Rhode Island Department of Education to increase the availability of convenient and low cost adult education courses that incorporate workplace skills training and financial education. Adult education programs can be paired with a local business to serve the student’s and business’s needs. The task force recognizes that issues such as improved public education, affordable housing and prisoner re-entry programs are relevant to reducing poverty, but are already being addressed in Providence.

The task force participants recognize that a coordinated and strategic approach to addressing poverty and creating opportunity relies also on state and federal partnerships with the local governments. In their report to Mayor Cicilline the Task Force recommends a series of strategies including; work support for low-wage workers; access to workforce training and education; and increased access to work supports such as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Medicaid; Head Start and Early Head Start programs; and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to name a few.

The United States Conference of Mayors created its Poverty Work and Opportunity Task Force in response to the devastation of Huricane’s Katrina and Rita. Cicilline is a member of that task force as well as Chair of the Conference’s Standing Committee on Children, Health and Human Services.