View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Maine The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Women's Publications - All Publications 6-1-2006 Maine Women's Advocate No. 34 (Summer 2002) Maine Women's Lobby, Maine Women's Policy Center Staff Maine Women's Lobby, Maine Women's Policy Center Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all Part of the History Commons, Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Sociology Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Repository Citation Staff, Maine Women's Lobby, Maine Women's Policy Center, "Maine Women's Advocate No. 34 (Summer 2002)" (2006). Maine Women's Publications - All. 212. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all/212 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Women's Publications - All by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The MAINE * ‘ Summer 2002 .WOMEN’S ADVOCATE Number 34 a joint publication of the up to 50%. Unfortunately, particularly on the national level, the de­ bate was mostly based on rhetoric and stereotypes and little atten­ MAINE tion was paid to the root causes of poverty: low wage jobs, lack of WOMEN’S reliable transportation, insufficient and inadequate childcare, the need for increased education and training and access to health care. Since LOBBY the underlying causes of poverty were not addressed, it will come as no surprise that the families who have left TANF are frequently still and the struggling in abject poverty. MAINE In Maine, through a combination of careful research (long time WOMEN’S Lobby/Policy Center members may remember Stephanie Seguino's compelling report, Living on the Edge), strong coalition building (the POLICY Women's Economic Security Project (WESP)) and solid advocacy efforts we were able to achieve a bi-partisan implementation plan CENTER that is one of the most humane and effective in the country. Al- though we believe that there are improvements that can be made, rANF Reauthorization: we also believe that Maine has crafted several innovative programs in Opportunity to Reduce Poverty, Not Just that can serve as models for the rest of the country. reloads One model program that Maine has developed is our Parents as Five years ago, the Clinton Administration vowed to end, “wel- continued on pg.3 are as we know it” and they succeeded. Congress is currently THE ALLIANCE FOR FAMILY SUCCESS lebating whether the changes that were made in 1996 are going to Promoting TANF Tools That Work in Maine te “reformed” again and if so, to what extent, before reauthorizing he program. The Alliance for Family Success is a state-wide broad-based coalition formed to provide information and education to policy makers in order to Today’s safety net for poor families bears only a slight resem- encourage the reauthorization of the TANF, Food Stamp, and Child Care >lance to the pre-1996 welfare system. One significant difference block grants in a manner that respects the dignity of families and en­ hances their access to supports necessary to meet their basic needs and s that prior to 1996 the program was an “entitlement” program. improve their opportunities for economic security. That meant that as long as a family met the eligibility requirement Founding Organizations hey were “entitled” to receive services. Since 1996, states have MAINE EQUAL JUSTICE PARTNERS 207.626.7058 [email protected] )een given “block grants”, a set amount of money that has not MAINE WOMEN’S POLICY CENTER 207.622.0851 ncreased over the past 5 years, to provide programs to low-income WomensPolicyCent@aol. com amilies, primarily women and children. The federal government is MAINE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY 207.622.7381 inder no obligation to pay any additional dollars to states if a reces- mecep@mecep. org MAINE ASSOCIATION OF INTERDEPENDENT NEIGHBORHOODS ;ion occurs and money runs out. [email protected] Another visible sign of the changing nature of the program was Supporting Organizations enaming the program. Aid to Families with Dependent Children ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN’S CARE, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT SERVICE* AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN-ME ‘CARING AFDC) was changed to Temporary Assistance for Needy Fami- UNLIMITED* COASTAL ENTERPRISES, INC.‘FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIA­ ies. The underlying policy position that this name change signaled TION OF MAINE* FAMILY VIOLENCE PROJECT*KENNEBEC VALLEY vas that welfare would only provide benefits for a limited time and COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM*MAINE AFL-CIO*MAINE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE*MAINE COALITION FOR FOOD SECURITY‘MAINE COUNCIL OF it the goal of the program was to move people, primarily single CHURCHES*MAINE PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE*NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF Parent mothers, into the workforce as quickly as possible. Reduc- SOCIAL WORKERS. ME. CHAPTER* PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTH­ ERN NEW ENGLAND* P.O.W.E.R.’PREBLE STREET RESOURCE CENTER ng the client caseload has become a popular benchmark for mea- CONSUMER ADVOCACY PROJECT*P.R.O.P.*ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ;uring the success of TANF. Based on that measure, it was a huge PORTLAND*WE WHO CARE’WOMEN UNLIMITED*WOMEN, WORK, AND ;uccess. Every state, including Maine saw their caseloads drop by CpMMUNITY*YORK CO. INITIATIVE TO END HOMELESSNESS’YWCA OF GREATER PORTLAND Women’S Policy Center SponsorS Successful Annual Events On March 14, the Women’s Policy Center hosted our women from around the state. Participants were shown around th annual “Girls’ Day at the State House,” which brought 80 sev­ State House, introduced to legislative leaders, learned how to testify < enth and eighth grade girls to the Capitol for a day of educa­ a Public Hearing, and how to effectively lobby their legislators. Sec tional activities. This year, the girls traveled from Fort Kent to ond day activities consisted of an inspirational keynote address t r South Berwick to attend this event. The girls learned their way bassador Linda Tarr-Whelan and workshops on Clean ElectionST'ac around the State House, how to testify in a Public Hearing, how vocacy, elections 101, and public speaking. to develop a catchy message for an issue, and what their own We would like to thank everyone who generously donated the legislators do in a workday. The girls also met with Governor time, resources, and expertise to make these events sucessful an King, Speaker Saxl, and other legislators. Here are some re­ memorable for the participants. flections of the girls who attended: “I learned about the roles women have in our government adn that we can do anything, and plan to! The most important thing is what we can do in the government if we work hard and believe in ourselves.” - Gabrielle, St. John Plantation “I learned how to debate and make a decision... you guys taught everything we need to know.” - Crystal, Arundel “I learned about the important role women take in our gov­ ernment and how many more we need.” - Therese, Portland The Women’s Leadership Forum, held to train Maine women on how to be successful political and community leaders,was held January 25th and 26th, and drew almost 100 Tomorrow’s leaders today: Girls ’ Day at the State House 2002 Interns, fellows, & staff, oh my! also works with the Maine People’s Alliance in their progressive campaign for universal health care in the state of Maine. The Lobby & Policy Center Welcome Three Additions Susannah Summer usually is the time of year when life at the Maine Women’s Lobby and Maine Women’s Policy Center shifts into Susannah has the distiction of being selected as the Maine a lower gear. This year is different. Laura, along with former Women’s Policy Center’s inaugural Linda Smith Dyer Fellow. intern Ariel Ricci and long-time volunteer Lillian Pease, has Susannah is researching legislation related to violence against women, spent her time training new staff. The offices are bustling with and resources which are available to victims of domestic violence, activity and projects, as Andrea Breau, Susannah Sprague, and sexual assault, and stalking. She is creating a publication which Mel Martin settle into their new positions. will be distributed to crisis centers, shelters, and advocates state­ wide. You can read Susannah’s personal story, in her own words, Andrea later in this newsletter. Fresh from a semester study­ ing abroad in Senegal, West Africa, Mel Andrea has joined us as a summer intern. Andrea is a senior Mel doesn’t have a great story to tell. She’s a Texan and Women’s Studies major at Colby transplanted Kansan, who awoke one day last summer to find her­ College. She is a passionate ad­ self in Bowdoinham, Maine, with her partner, two dogs, a llama, vocate of social activism and and a U-Haul. Her life’s journey has led her to tenures as an dreams of becoming art effective educator, coach, writer, editor, cowgirl, cartographer, and water agent of social change. As a law quality specialist. Surely we’ve left out an occupation or two, but school hopeful with plans for a joint she won’t divulge any further information. Mel began in June as degree in public policy, Andrea our new Executive Assistant, and at least for the time being, doesn’t hopes to spend a post-grad year seem to be thinking about another career move. working with a women’s rights ad­ Mel wishes to thank Laura and the Boards of the Maine vocacy or lobby group. Among her Women’s Lobby and Maine Women’s Policy Center for giving her other responsibilites at MWL.