Wednesday, April 26, 2017


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I have never done blogs before this class. For me, this was very interesting. Each post made me gain insight of the things happening in society today. This class gives awareness and help teaches us about these important things. Social inequality-  has many factors associated with the topic. Because of this, it is important to recognize these aspects. I want to become a Social Worker, and this class helped me understand these topics. I'm glad now that I got to do these posts. It will only benefit me in the future :)
Week 9

Two National Organizations:

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC)
APSAC seeks to improve the quality of practice provided by professionals who work in child abuse and neglect by providing professional education and promoting research and practice guidelines in child maltreatment.

The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice
The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice is a national organization dedicated to enhancing advocacy for survivors of oppression-based intimate partner violence. CSAJ seeks to promote survivor-centered advocacy by enhancing the work of attorneys, by organizing communities, and by offering leadership on critical issues facing survivors and advocates throughout the nation.  CSAJ strives to enhance advocacy by cultivating a community of attorneys and advocates who are skilled in survivor-centered advocacy and capable of meeting the entire spectrum of civil legal assistance needs of survivors through their own advocacy and in partnership with others


Two Local Organizations:
Center for Addiction Recovery Education & Support (CARES) — The Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success works to engage and organize the recovery community by helping individuals find, maintain, and enhance their recovery experience through peer support, educational and volunteer opportunities and sober recreation, as well as working to reduce stigma associated with substance abuse through advocacy, education and service.

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) — Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc. (CSPNJ) is a peer led not-for-profit organization. CSPNJ provides flexible community-based services that promote responsibility, recovery and wellness through the provision of community wellness centers, supportive and respite housing, human rights advocacy, and educational and innovative programs.



The solutions for these groups are to administer safe ways to prevent addition, and the other topic was for Justice. These solutions go from helping improve quality, providing education, organizing communities, facing issues, communicate, provide housing, and helping society and the environment.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Week 8

ALICE stands for: Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed. It means the people who work hard everyday; basic necessities. Like; housing, health care, transportation, food, and other basic needs- who unfortunately cannot do it themselves. The reason this is very important: because this is providing group a source of faith and unlimited resources. The way one moves up in life is primarily based on: Income, and with that comes the importance of education. Especially now, you will get a higher income based on your level of education. These help unlimited amount of people everyday which will help society in the long run. Giving families hope and the things they need in life, is essential in life.
Week 7

This video discusses the sad reality: on how difficult it is to trend upwards in mobility scale. Quite frankly it is becoming less likely to succeed;  it is solely based on their individual income. She spoke on how to help low- income families and to help trend mobility upwards. She spoke about different individual rights. There are specific categories that get called into question. She stated about education, jobs and less access to housing. The accessibility is decreasing, and it isn't fair whatsoever. People who live in poverty, have no assess to the things people who have higher incomes have. The number of resources will decrease rapidly. People need affordable housing- so individuals can begin to progress and have the equal rights everyone has. If we continue to not help these families: we are truly affecting society and each individual in the economy.
Image result for perceptions of poverty cartoonsWeek 6


I included this image: because it shows the prime example of how poverty is displayed in society.
Both candidates discussed the topic of poverty. They both agreed on poverty and low-income families. They spoke on solutions to help these groups of people, because they need to be helped. They gave examples on how to move towards upward mobility. They gave examples of more opportunities like better jobs and more incentives for individuals.
In my personal opinion: I feel like politicians wouldn't now how it feels to be in poverty. This economy we tend to glamorize rich people. The low income families- are left out to dust and to be forgotten about. Unless people have been in this situation- how would they know? Poverty is a serious problem happening in the world everyday. We can keep listing solutions- but will it really help? We need to take action- and stop talking about solutions.
I would disagree with this statement. An individual in poverty- doesn't mean this specific individual wants to be poor. Some people are born into it, and unfortunately especially today- the society we live in; economy is getting worse and so are the jobs. So no- The statement is completey false; once someone is in poverty- they will undergo the never ending cycle poverty offers.

I think this game gives more insight I would've ever thought. I wasn't born into money and I have a great life thankfully because of mother's job. But I am even more grateful now. It puts you into each scenario and really makes you think. It makes you realize - that you should be happy for every single thing we own in our house. We have shelter, food, water, a couch, a bed-  All of those things we take much advantage over. One question that really sticked out to me was: the one where it said the child was embarrassed that kids were bullying her- about the free lunches. That was sad. I never looked at it like that. We live in a society where it is "normal" to judge someone, and it isn't. Poverty isn't something people have a dream about being in. If something traumatic happens- it is no one's fault. I have a deeper appreciation for all the people suffering- that live in poverty.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

What is killing the Middle Class?
By reviewing this articles- it is indeed dying. It has to do with the most important factor is income. Income has to do with everything because- it is the way groups get categorized. The three classes we know in society is Upper Class, Middle Class, and Poor Class. Did you every hear the phrase "The richer gets richer, and the poorer continues to get poorer." I think it has a lot to do with our economy, and quite frankly it is true. From looking at research, primarily from the  Pew website it states- Found that the median income for middle-class households fell by nearly 5 percent between 2000 and 2014. Their median wealth (assets minus debt) declined by 28 percent after the housing market crisis and subsequent Great Recession. When looking at the facts, it has much to do with incomes, and how it is affecting society. You need an substantial amount of money, but it seems like the middle class- keeps decreasing because of the high costs amounts- just to maintain a "normal" life, and keep finances trending towards. From the past to now- Sadly, middle class has changed. To live keeps getting more expensive. The question to most people is where does it go? And, the answer is to the wealthier class unfortunately. Maybe the question isn't what is killing it, and maybe should be who directly is killing it?
INCOME CACULATOR:
I am currently in the Middle Class. This breaks it down, asks your location, age, ethnic background, number of Individuals in the household, the income amount before taxes. This is what I received:
Among all American adults with your education, age, race or ethnicity, and marital status, 40% are lower income, 53% are middle income and 7% are upper income.
 
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This is how the website breaks it down:
 
Our new analysis shows that the American middle class lost ground in the vast majority of metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2014, and the shares of adults in the lower- and upper-income ranks rose in most areas. There was more movement into the upper-income tier in about half the areas, while in the other half there was more movement downward.
The calculator takes your household income and adjusts it for the size of your household. The income is revised upward for households that are below average in size and downward for those that are above average. This way, each household’s income is made equivalent to the income of a three-person household (the whole number nearest to the average size of a U.S. household, which was 2.5 in 2014).
Pew Research Center does not store or share any of the information you enter.
Your size-adjusted household income and the cost of living in your area are the factors we use to determine your income tier. Middle-income households – those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income – had incomes ranging from about $42,000 to $125,000 in 2014. Lower-income households had incomes less than $42,000 and upper-income households had incomes greater than $125,000 (all figures computed for three-person households, adjusted for the cost of living in a metropolitan area, and expressed in 2013-14 dollars).
The cost-of-living adjustment for an area was calculated as follows: Jackson, Tennessee, is a relatively inexpensive area, with a price level that is 17% less than the national average. The Hawaii metropolitan area known as Urban Honolulu is one of the most expensive areas, with a price level that is 22.5% higher than the national average. Thus, to step over the national middle-class threshold of $42,000, a household in Jackson needs an income of only about $34,600, or 17% less than the national standard. But a household in Urban Honolulu needs a reported income of about $51,000, or 22.5% more than the U.S. norm, to join the middle class.
The income calculator encompasses 229 of 381 metropolitan areas in the U.S., as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. If you live in an area outside of one of these 229 areas, the calculator reports the estimates for your state.
The second part of our calculator asks you more questions about yourself, such as age, race or ethnicity, and marital status. This allows you to see how other adults who are similar to you demographically are distributed across lower-, middle- and upper-income tiers in the U.S. overall. It does not recompute your economic tier.
 
Hi Class! My name is Elizabeth Colon. I received my Associates degree this past December. This is actually my first semester here at Kean- so technically I am a junior. I want to become a social worker. Fun Fact I am a fraternal twin. And I love to travel! Seeing the world and experiencing culture is my favorite thing to do.