Understanding the Depth of Challenges People Face

Author E. Jensen (2010) defines poverty “as a chronic and debilitating condition that results from multiple adverse synergistic risk factors and affects the mind, body, and soul. However you define it, poverty is complex; it does not mean the same thing for all people.” People across the world face difficulty. Difficulties include but are not limited to: complex factors involved with overcoming generational poverty, challenges that the aged face when there is a lack of access to employment, and unique challenges that women face through different life stages.

There are several types of poverty: generational, relative, urban, and situational to name a few. Some people experience one type of poverty while others experience a combination of types of poverty. Generational poverty is defined as two or more generations that are born into poverty and do not have the necessary tools to move beyond poverty. Relative poverty is defined by the economic status of a family. The family does not have the income that meets the standard of living that is needed by the average working person or family. Urban poverty is defined more or less by the area in which a family lives. They are usually grouped into over-crowded neighborhoods that have high instances of violence. People in this group are more likely to depend on services from the Government such as food stamps and Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF). Situational poverty can be defined as an occurrence that creates a temporary situation.

According to Jensen (2010), there are four risk factors that affect those that live in poverty in an adverse way: emotional and social challenges, health and safety issues, cognitive lags, and acute and chronic stressors. Families that live in poverty o...

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...ive and how I will approach this special population has changed drastically. I have gained a better understanding of risk factors that are prevalent to this population as well as to valuable insight that allows me be more open when dealing with this population. During this lesson, I have learned that it will be vital for me to find ways to meet the needs of the aforementioned populations that will allow for continuous growth of my clients. Taking each individual as they come and learning how to understand, communicate, and navigate through his or her own unique circumstances will help me serve my client more efficiently.

References

Jensen, E., & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (2010). Teaching with poverty in mind. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109074/chapters/Understanding-the-Nature-of-Poverty.aspx