HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a highly advancing disease all over the world. According to reports since 1981, there are more than 1.8 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have been infected with HIV; today, more than 1.1 million people are living with HIV. Over the years medical experts have been and still are trying to find a core for this epidemic. Although, the numbers have gone down since then, but there are still new infections that remain at about 50,000.

There are programs that are provided in the prevention of this disease. Also not only government programs provide prevention, churches also. 

According to the article “HIV/AIDS Policy initiative” written by Geoff Foster, 

“The main providers of health services were religious organizations, a situation that continues today in some countries with severe HIV/AIDS epidemics. Religious health networks are the second largest entity of health care providers in the developing world after government programs."

I came across interesting information regarding a treatment drug called “the Sondashi formula HIV/AIDS treatment drug” out of Zambia, Africa. Dr. Ludwig Sondashi, is the inventor of the Sondashi Formula 2000 HIV herbal remedy which he claims has cured over 400 people suffering from HIV after taking his medicine.

As of last year one man has claimed to have been cured from taking this medication. He stated he tested HIV+ on July 1, 2005 and now he’s cured. The man stated:

“I am so happy because I think I have broken a record for Dr. Sondashi's drug. I only took it for four months because I started taking it on January 21 this year and I doubt if there is anyone else who has been cured in such a short period of time. I hear others have to take the drug for at least six months and above for them to get positive results."

Do you think the U.S. should invest in Dr. Sondashi medication and if so why? Also, would you recommend this medication to someone you know that’s living with this disease (only after you have done your research).

DISABLED AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

This week June 9-13, 2014, we saw a number of students graduating from high school and are getting ready for college. Two of those graduations were special, so special it bought tears to my eyes, in one occasion a male student with cerebral palsy walk for the first time to collect his certificate, it was so touching his dad cried openly. In the other occasion a principal and a female student surprised her classmates by walking across the field to collect her certificate, both students will be attending college in the fall.
 
These stories and many more like them were made possible "when the US congress enacted a veritable resolution in 1975, when it passed the Education for all Handicapped (disabled) Act" (Altshuler p25), this Act allowed disabled children to attend public schools.

I happen to worked with clients who are disabled and when I first heard that they went to high school and college, I was surprised because in Jamaica the disabled attend special schools and from their they are left to the mercy of the country. I never see a disabled person working in the country and one of the reason for me being so surprised. Now, all I think about is how can I help my country in helping the disabled? If it is even getting them in the work force.

Urban Children: The Endangered Species. By Sophie Heng

"We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who makes a brighter day, so let's start giving. There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives. It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me." Michael Jackson  (Watch it here: We are the World)

Young Students protesting School Closings.
Photo from NYCEYE.Blogspot.com

I hope you are thinking about how important it is that we as Social Workers, parents, and concerned citizens will advocate to end the massive cuts to programs that provides services to poor families and children. However some critics still have issues with social programs being a social responsibility or a personal responsibility. Let's look at the growth and development of a child born into a poor household and the family have limited resources to sustain a quality education, quality housing, and quality employment. Take the mother and father out of the equation, did the child choose to be born into those conditions? They are going to be conditioned into the environment they grow up in. Take away all the services to help the family achieve personal and financial success and you take the child's ability to grow into a productive member of society. Give a child a chance to better himself with a quality education, a better opportunity to higher learning, adequate health, housing, and nutrition and I'm pretty sure when he grows up he will be able to care for his family without the help of social services. How important is this issue? We are not going to live forever and the success of these children will determine the success of our future because they will become the next generation of citizens and leaders.  

Solution 

Preventative approaches to help low-income families and their children are cost effective, pro-active, and increases their chances from moving out of poverty and less needy of social services. Policies such as family preservations, SNAP, Affordable Healthcare and Head Starts had the right idea. 

Let's take a look at the The Harlem Children's Zone Model. The idea is holistic in addressing the needs of the child and their families. "If we could move to a place of empathy, identifying with children because we have all been children, we might create different ways of caring for children and their families. If an empathetic stance is taken, we would ask what all children need to ensure well-being, and create policies to fulfill that need... Preventing social problems not only alleviates immediate suffering but may help to solve the problems entirely." Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs - Segal (pg. 305)

Stay inspired, Sophie. 

Throughout history, Marriage has been considered to be between a man and a women for the purpose of procreation. It states in the bible in Mark 10:6-9 In the original creation, God made male and female to be together.  Because of this, a man leaves father and mother, and in marriage  he becomes one flesh with a woman - no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity.  Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart."

The bible because of the creation of its time was meant for Gods followers men and women to reproduce in order to help with farming purposes but also to upheld the family legacy. In 2014, though many strives were made for equality “rights & respect”, society still has many ways to go in order for complete equality including marriage, security and benefits. I personally do no have an issue nor negative thoughts regarding gay marriage and in fact many of my friends and family members support gay marriage. On the other hand I have gay friends and family members that do not want to get married but want to option to be there instead of government officials deciding their future.  Social injustice and civil rights of the LGBTQ population has and continues to be an issue because their treated as second class citizens because of their sexual preference “which is not a choice” contrary to peoples beliefs. Gay couples were given the right to marry in Pennsylvania on May 20^th ,2014 and although that was a major accomplishment the United States still needs to correct their policies regarding LGBTQ adoption, rights and donating of blood to those in desperate need. 

With that said, How do you guys feel about gay marriage? 

Impact of Poverty on the Economy

Economic policy is one of the key factors that affect the social welfare and the things that people can qualify for when it comes to housing, nutrition and medical needs. And this is the areas that social worker look at when they are working with people to meet up with their needs.  There is poverty problem which is affecting the economy because when a lot of people are poor there is nothing much that they can do to contribute to the growth of economy. These people need help to get the basic necessity of life and they are not supposed to be ignored. They need the government services to support their life. Some of this people are contributing to the social security which at the end of the day they cannot have access to it until they reach the age they can qualify for it even though they are facing poverty.

There is one of our church members that lost his job and he has three children that depend on him. He was undergoing serious poor situation. He was living on people for help; the food stamp wasn’t enough for him and his children to live on. Some people were donating to him as little as they can, but is this the life that someone should rely on? I think the government need to do more to reduce poverty because some people seriously need aid. I am glad for Obama care policy which is helping the people for Affordable health insurance. But the poor still need more help from the government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Undeserving Versus Deserving" by Laura Derr

What constitutes deserving or undeserving?  Why is a single mother more deserving of assistance than a single father?  Why is a US citizen more deserving than an illegal immigrant?  Is it okay to provide help to a single mother instead of a single father?  Is it okay to provide food to a citizen, but let the other person starve?

So much of the debate on social services and welfare services is on whether or not the people deserve the help.  Yes, there are a few people who take advantage of and abuse the system, but most people don't!  Is it okay to blame 1,000 people for something that 5 do?  No!  I think that everyone is deserving of help and it is not fair to either not provide any services, or to not provide sufficient services to the lower income and poor.

There are so many people out there who work at least 40 hour work weeks, doing the jobs that we scrunch up our noses at, and they get minimum wage and unaffordable benefits.  Why are these people undeserving?

Why is it okay to force a single parent to work a 40 hour work week and then take away his or her children because they couldn't afford to place them in childcare?  The affordable childcare that is supposed to be available is not.  Then, if the parent chooses to stay home and collect assistance in order to take care of his or her children, he or she is labeled as undeserving of receiving any assistance because they are lazy.

Much of society only sees the black and white of this issue, but there is so much grey!  There is no set choice!  How many of you would leave your children in the hands of unqualified strangers so you could go to work?  Would you leave them home alone?  Would you stay home to ensure their health, safety, and well-being?  If you had to choose between a day of work or your children, what would you choose?

Why does all of this matter so much to so many people?  This country is so set on taking as much as possible that we have stopped considering our neighbors.  This country was founded on Christian values, and yet the social assistance programs and welfare programs are really anything but.

Are you going to let people go hungry, get sick, and live on the streets just because you judge them, without knowing them, as undeserving?  Are you going to deny people of their inherent dignity and human rights?  Or will you set aside your criticism and judgement and help people pick up their feet?

This blog posting was based off of information found in our textbook:
"Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs - A Values Perspective" By Elizabeth A. Segal,  Chapter 6

Minimum Wage

Right now there are only 5 states and Washington DC that has increased minimum wage. Currently President Obama is advocating strongly for an increase to occur nationwide.  Even with the majority of people supporting this proposal, many lawmakers have not jumped on the Presidents bandwagon to enact this new policy. 

At the current rate of $7.25 per hour people can not make ends meet, so they need to rely on social welfare services such as food stamps and housing assistance to get by. If the minimum wage was increase to a more livable wage, then many would not have to rely on the government for basic survival.

Some opponents of a wage increase insist that it would be harmful to the economy causing employers to lay off worker but this really hasn’t been proven.  They believe small businesses would suffer because it would be too expensive to hire workers. However studies have shown when wages are increased, it actually helps the economy. When people make more, they spend more money.

This is not a new fight. We have been in an ongoing battle for higher wages. As stated by Segal in Social Welfare and Social Programs,  “… since 2006 the minimum wage stood at $5.15 per hour then gradually raised to $5.85 in 2007, $6.55 in 2008 and $7.25 in 2009.”

From 2006 to 2009 the minimum wage was increased each year despite the economic crisis in 2008. I guess the governments needed to take a hiatus with providing the working poor with the annual wage increases during the height of the economic crisis. But it’s now time that they allow minimum wage to catch up with cost of living.

President Obama is asking for the minimum wage to be increase to $10.10, you can help him with this fight. Go to this website and sign the petition.

http://www.barackobama.com/raise-the-wage-petition/

Update: 

Seattle passes the nation's highest minimum wage of $15/hour.