Western Kentucky University: Community Assessment Narrative

Press release from Western Kentucky University:

October 5, 2021

As the delta variant of the coronavirus quickly spreads, regional economic effects will likely continue. The following article by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis addresses these concerns in the Midwestern region of the country. The general information on low income communities are likely applicable across the country.

"When looking at Census Pulse Survey responses from the spring and summer, for adults 25 to 54 who are parents, child care arrangements in our region were disrupted, and it adversely impacted their income.2

Census Pulse Survey 2

• 35% of parents reported lost employment income if their child care was disrupted, compared with 17.5% if they reported no disruption.
• Hispanic and Black families with child care interruptions reported lost employment income at higher rates: Of those experiencing child care disruptions, 57.9% of Hispanic parents and 44.5% of Black parents reported lost employment income. If they did not report a disruption, only 18.4% of Hispanic parents and 30.8% of Black parents reported a loss in employment income.

The child care disruptions translated into greater difficulty meeting household expenses.

• 52.5% of parents who faced a child care interruption reported an increased difficulty meeting their expenses. In contrast, 29.8% of parents had trouble meeting expenses despite experiencing no disruption.
• White, Black and Hispanic parents who reported significant child care challenges also reported major difficulty meeting their expenses. Over two-thirds of Black and Hispanic parents reported difficulty meeting their expenses. Almost 46% of white parents reported difficulty meeting their expenses"

For more information, read the entire article, The Enduring Regional Economic Challenges Associated with the Pandemic.

_________________________

J. Christopher Watkins

Executive Director/Department HeadTraining & Technical Assistance Services (T/TAS)Western Kentucky University800.882.7482www.ttas.orgttas.info@wku.edu

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This press release was produced by Western Kentucky University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.