You may have heard the phrase “poverty is a policy choice,” but when it comes to the lives of children and families in Vermont, what does it really mean? Throughout the month of January, Voices will host a free series of reflective conversations to help illuminate and demystify Reach Up, Vermont’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
During these discussions, we’ll work to uncover the structural underpinnings and real consequences of a Reach Up policy that shapes the lives and opportunities of 5,000 to 8,000 children in Vermont each month. We’ll hear from individuals with lived experience and direct experience working with the system and trying to change it. And we’ll work together to envision how Vermont can repair the harm caused by poverty and move toward a practice that truly meets the current mission of ensuring that every child’s basic needs are met. The legislative session is here and there's never been a better time to start engaging with the policies that shape children's ability to thrive. Register today!
Session 1: What is Reach Up? An exploration of Vermont’s TANF Program(Thursday, January 12th, 12 -1 pm): Vermonters value ensuring children’s needs are met, yet families accessing Reach Up currently receive less than half of a subsistence budget, and are significantly restricted in their ability to access additional funds. How did this come to be? Join us for a dive into the historical context around TANF programs in the United States as we uncover the unjust foundations of Reach Up’s past as part of a greater effort to create a more just future. Featuring Felicia Kornbluh, writer, activist, and professor specializing in the histories of feminism, gender, social welfare, and reproductive politics at the University of Vermont. Among other The Battle for Welfare Rights: Poverty and Politics in Modern America, Dr. Donna Pavetti, senior fellow at the center on budget and policy priorities and leading expert on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and Olivia Graffeo-Cohen, staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid.
Session 2: Reach Up Today (Thursday, Jan 19, 12-1 pm): - Despite its impact on the lives of thousands of children in Vermont, our Reach Up program can feel impenetrable. During this discussion, we’ll explore the way in which current benefits impact families and child well-being and listen to stories of what it means to have the program designed the way it is.
Session 3: The Future of Reach Up in VT (Thursday, Jan 26, 12-1 pm) - There is broad recognition that if Reach Up is going to meet its mandate to ensure the basic needs of all children are met, it needs to change. Yet many questions remain- what does justice for families look like, and how can we avoid the many pitfalls of a partially-funded program? Join us to collectively vision how Reach-Up might effectively and equitably meet the needs of Vermont families.