GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED

TO DEFINE KEY WORDS TO IDENTIFY THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN

USA PROGRAMS AND JAMAICA’S TO HIGHLIGHT SOLUTIONS TO ALLEVIATING

POVERTY.

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

Poverty: This as an economic condition of lacking both money and basic necessities needed to successfully live, such as food, water, education, healthcare, and shelter.

Poverty Line: This is a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards.

Welfare: Government benefits distributed to impoverished persons to enable them to maintain a minimum standard of well-being.

Public Assistance: This refers to tax supported programs of financial aid for individuals and families based on established needs.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF Program) - Is the largest public assistance program that serves families with children.

It replaced the AFDC – Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

The aim of the AFDC was to strengthen families.

Strengthens the “cycle of Poverty”. Family Support Act

Main features : Work requirements for all adult recipients Time Limits for receiving assistance Variability from state to state Key Features: Eligibility Program participation Termination

Poor Relief Act of 1886 Ministry of Labour and Social Security

formerly Ministry of Pensions and Social Security.

Food for the Poor (NGO) Salvation Army (NGO)

This was the first governmental organization to address poverty in Jamaica.

The Act spoke to three (3) main areas of indigence:

Institutional Care Monthly dole Assistance with basic food items

The Public Assistance Division in this ministry was formed in 1972 when it took over programs such as Rehabilitation Grants, Compassionate Grants and family allowances form the Poor Relief.

Food Stamp Program Introduced – This program targeted:

Pregnant and lactating women Children Elderly The handicapped Large families

Are Christian charity organizations that provide: Food Health care Social Economic Emergency relief services

Skills 2000 Secondary School Fee Assistance Program Operation Pride Integrated Community Development

Programme Special Training & Employment Programme

Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme Strategy to Rehabilitate Inner-city

Communities through Viable Enterprises (STRIVE)

Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) National Poverty Eradication Programme

(NPEP)

Introduction of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

Consolidation of the three main welfare programmes: Food stamp Outdoor Poor relief Old age/Incapacity allowances

In 2009 Jamaica had 445,000 people living below the poverty line.

To be classified as living below the poverty line one has to be earning an income of $1.25 – $2.00US per day

COUNTRY PERCENTAGE YEAR

JAMAICA 18.7 2003

CHINA 28 2007

COLOMBIA 64 2008

BRAZIL 21.5 2008

HAITI 65 2003