{"id":2749,"date":"2018-04-06T10:03:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T14:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=2749"},"modified":"2019-03-23T22:45:52","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:45:52","slug":"child-poverty-maine-support-bill-improve-parents-access-education-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/child-poverty-maine-support-bill-improve-parents-access-education-training\/","title":{"rendered":"CHILD POVERTY IN MAINE: Support Bill to Improve Parents\u2019 Access to Education and Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Maine\u2019s child poverty rate is increasing eight times faster than the national average. A bill in the Maine legislature could help bring those numbers down by increasing parents\u2019 access to educational and training opportunities. UPDATE: LD 1774 is now law in Maine! After receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate, the bill became law without the governor’s signature. A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this important legislation!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n


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Education Working Group<\/a> C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/span><\/strong> LD 1774 is now law in Maine! After receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate, the bill became law without the governor’s signature. A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this important legislation!<\/span><\/p>\n

THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of Maine children living in extreme poverty rose <\/span>8 times faster than the national average<\/span><\/a>, increasing by <\/span>13.6%<\/span><\/a>. While the majority of parents living in poverty <\/span>work at least part-time<\/span><\/a>, many are locked into low-wage or seasonal jobs, often due to a lack of education or training. Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon (D-Freeport) is sponsoring <\/span>LD 1774<\/span><\/a>, An Act to Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments in Families for Tomorrow (LIFT 2.0). The bill, an update to <\/span>legislation introduced last session<\/span><\/a>, aims to<\/span> increase access to training and education<\/span><\/a>, add more skilled people into Maine\u2019s shrinking workforce, and increase families\u2019 abilities to earn higher wages. Funds for LIFT 2.0 will come from existing federal programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). The bill would also provide support for childcare, transportation, and job coaches, helping parents provide a financially stable home for their families, while improving the opportunities for Maine\u2019s most vulnerable children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n