Regional Poverty: What's going On?

A recently posted article on Facebook from NBC Nebraska-Scottsbluff reported that poverty levels in the Panhandle and community of Kimball are relatively higher than in some other areas and the state as a whole.

With that kind of information going around, questions started to rise and fingers began to point.

According to Kelsey Irvine, community health planner for Panhandle Public Health District, county health rankings have shown some errors in data reporting in the past for counties with smaller populations like some in the Panhandle.

However, even with the errors, some say the data can still be a helpful tool for general ideas to see what is happening throughout smaller communities.

“When it comes to looking at data for counties with small populations, the margin of error is rather large,” Irvine said. “This means that while the data calculated are as accurate as possible, they are never 100% accurate. The larger the population, the more accurate the calculation.”

Ivine said that the “poverty rate for adults 18 and older in Kimball County is 11.9% compared to the state at 10.8% – not a huge difference. You typically see higher rates of poverty in female headed households, which means single moms. In Kimball County, this rate is lower than that of the state and is actually one of the lowest three counties in our region.”

(See the chart on Page A3 for more detailed statistics.)

Health conditions also factor in for those in poverty.

“Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities,” Irvine said. “We know that taking care of ourselves by eating well and staying active, not smoking, getting the recommended immunizations and screening tests, and seeing a doctor when we are sick all influence our health.

“Our health is also determined in part by access to social and economic opportunities; the resources and supports available in our homes, neighborhoods and communities; the quality of our schooling; the safety of our workplaces; the cleanliness of our water, food, and air; and the nature of our social interactions and relationships. The conditions in which we live explain in part why some Americans are healthier than others and why Americans more generally are not as healthy as they could be.”

As a region, the Panhandle creates a Community Health Improvement Plan every three years. Poverty was identified as a social determinant of health in the most recent cycle, and mitigating the negative impacts of living in poverty is in focus.

Here are some areas of work that impact those living in poverty across the Panhandle:

Physical Activity and Nutrition

Many people in poverty lack their own transportation, so safe walking and biking routes for active transportation are helpful.

Increasing access to healthy foods also can be addressed by working with convenience stores. Many people in poverty who don’t have transportation have a difficult time getting groceries to/from the grocery store, so may rely on local convenience stores for food. Having fresh fruits and vegetables in those stores increases their access to healthy foods.

Housing

The Panhandle Area Development District eceives funding through the EPA Brownfield’s Program to assess, clean up and re-use abandoned or underutilized sites.

In addition, legal aid can provide assistance to renters needing to resolve issues with their landlords, such as not keeping rental property up to code.

Work also is being done to create consistent policies for lead poisoning screening and increased awareness about lead poisoning and prevention. Older housing that has lead paint is generally occupied in large part by low-income families, putting them at higher risk.

Transportation

Transportation assessments are being completed across the Panhandle to increase access to transportation for medical appointments and for elderly people.

Education

Peer support programs increase likelihood of high school graduation within four years and going on to college. Financial literacy programs through community resources, such as WNCC, increase knowledge of managing finances.

Cultural Competency

Many individuals in poverty are of minority races and may not speak English. Culturally competent materials through healthcare providers, such as translated flyers, increase access to healthcare.