Tuesday, September 9, 2008
9:00–10:30 a.m. ET
The American dream rests on the assumption that hard work will lead to a job that pays enough to support a family. But for many low-wage adults, getting and keeping higher-paying jobs requires new skills. For others battling health, emotional, legal, and other barriers, entering or staying in the labor force may require a host of supports.
To further the debate on ways to protect vulnerable households and help them thrive, the Urban Institute published “A New Safety Net for Low-Income Families” (available at http://www.urban.org/projects/newsafetynet). Two of its papers—“Helping Poor Working Parents Get Ahead: Federal Funds for New State Strategies and Systems” and “Supporting Work for Low-Income People with Significant Challenges”—were the focus of this forum.
Panelists:
Rebecca Blank, senior fellow, Brookings Institution; former dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, and codirector, National Poverty Center
Michael Fletcher, national economics reporter, Washington Post, and contributor to the Post’s series on the plight of low-wage workers
Karin Martinson, senior research associate, Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population, Urban Institute
Margaret Simms, senior fellow, Urban Institute, and director of the Low-Income Working Families Project (moderator)
Don Winstead, deputy secretary, Florida State Department of Children and Families; former deputy assistant secretary for human services policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Resources
- Bios (pdf)
- Helping Poor Working Parents Get Ahead - Summary
- Supporting Work for Low-Income People with Significant Challenges - Summary
- Weathering Job Loss - Summary
- Fletcher -- urban data (pdf)
At the Urban Institute
2100 M Street N.W., 5th Floor, Washington, D.C.
Light breakfast will be provided at 8:30 a.m. The forum begins promptly at 9:00.
