1. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED

2. OBJECTIVES TO DEFINE KEY WORDS
TO IDENTIFY THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN USA PROGRAMS AND JAMAICA’S
TO HIGHLIGHT SOLUTIONS TO ALLEVIATING POVERTY.

3. KEY WORDS
Poverty: This as an economic condition of lacking both money and basic necessities needed to successfully live, such as food, water, education, healthcare, and shelter.
Poverty Line: This is a level of personal or family income below which one is classified as poor according to governmental standards.
Welfare: Government benefits distributed to impoverished persons to enable them to maintain a minimum standard of well-being.

4. KEY WORDS
Public Assistance: This refers to tax supported programs of financial aid for individuals and families based on established needs.

5. Welfare Programmes in America
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF Program) - Is the largest public assistance program that serves families with children.
It replaced the AFDC – Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

6. Welfare Programmes in America
The aim of the AFDC was to strengthen families.
Strengthens the “cycle of Poverty”.
Family Support Act

7. TANF Main features : Key Features:
Work requirements for all adult recipients
Time Limits for receiving assistance
Variability from state to state
Key Features:
Eligibility
Program participation
Termination

8. WELFARE PROGRAMS IN JAMAICA
Poor Relief Act of 1886
Ministry of Labour and Social Security formerly Ministry of Pensions and Social Security.
Food for the Poor (NGO)
Salvation Army (NGO)

9. Poor Relief
This was the first governmental organization to address poverty in Jamaica.
The Act spoke to three (3) main areas of indigence:
Institutional Care
Monthly dole
Assistance with basic food items

10. Ministry of Labour and Social Security (1972)
The Public Assistance Division in this ministry was formed in 1972 when it took over programs such as Rehabilitation Grants, Compassionate Grants and family allowances form the Poor Relief.

11. Ministry of Labour and Social Security 1980 - 1990
Food Stamp Program Introduced –
This program targeted:
Pregnant and lactating women
Children
Elderly
The handicapped
Large families

12. Food For the Poor & Salvation Army
Are Christian charity organizations that provide:
Food
Health care
Social
Economic
Emergency relief services

13. Social and Economic Support Programs (SESP 1995)
Skills 2000
Secondary School Fee Assistance Program
Operation Pride
Integrated Community Development Programme
Special Training & Employment Programme

14. Social and Economic Support Programs (SESP 1996)
Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme
Strategy to Rehabilitate Inner-city Communities through Viable Enterprises (STRIVE)
Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)
National Poverty Eradication Programme (NPEP)

15. Ministry of Labour and Social Security (2002)
Introduction of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).
Consolidation of the three main welfare programmes:
Food stamp
Outdoor Poor relief
Old age/Incapacity allowances

16. Poverty in Jamaica

17. Jamaica’s Poverty Line
In 2009 Jamaica had 445,000 people living below the poverty line.
To be classified as living below the poverty line one has to be earning an income of $1.25 – $2.00US per day

18. POPULATION LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
COUNTRY
PERCENTAGE
YEAR
JAMAICA
18.7
2003
CHINA 28
2007
COLOMBIA 64
2008
BRAZIL
21.5
HAITI 65