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Report: Pandemic has parents worried about mortgage, food, mental health

Messenger-Inquirer - 12/15/2020

Dec. 15--The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Kentucky parents to worry they won't be able to make their next mortgage or rent payment, while others reported having times when they didn't have enough food to feed their families.

A survey, which used U.S. Census Bureau data, found that almost one-fourth of Kentucky parents surveyed reported feeling depressed or helpless sometime within the week before the survey was conducted.

Those statistics are part of a national report compiled from Kids Count data. The report was released Monday by Kentucky Youth Advocates.

The report found 16% of Kentucky parents or caregivers replied "often" or "sometimes" to a question about not having enough food at home, and 19% had "slight confidence" or "no confidence" that they would be able to pay their next rent or mortgage payment. Both of those statistics were over the national average, where 18% were unsure of making their next rent or mortgage payment, and 14% if they often or occasionally didn't have enough food.

Patricia Tennen, chief operating officer for Kentucky Youth Advocates, said the report shows that families need an additional federal aid package and help from state lawmakers in the coming General Assembly session.

"I think without a second relief package coming from the federal government, it is definitely going to be hard times," Tennen said Monday.

One area where Kentucky fared better than the rest of the country was in health care. Only 10% of state parents surveyed said they were without health insurance compared to 12% nationwide.

"We expanded Medicaid" in Kentucky, Tennen said. The Medicaid expansion was part of the federal Affordable Care Act.

"That has proven to be a very effective safety net," Tennen said.

The Census data compiled in the report looked at questions of family economics and stability across racial and ethnic groups. Nationally, Black families fared worse than white families, or families of Asian or Latino ethnicity. For example, while 10% of white families nationally reported occasionally or frequently not having enough food, the figure was 23% for Black families.

Racial disparities can be found across the state, Tennen said.

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Policies that exacerbate the racial disparities highlighted by the report need to be identified and changed with the input from the groups that are hurt by them, Tennen said.

In the past, the racial impact of policies was intentional. But even a seemingly neutral policy can harm minority communities.

"Now, there are unintended consequences, and that's why it's important to look at the impacts," Tennen said. When looking at policies that hurt minority groups, officials must "talk to the community groups that are impacted and can tell us, 'these are the barriers we are facing,' " Tennen said.

On dealing with feeling helpless and depressed, people need access to resources such as telehealth.

"Already, Kentucky ranks pretty low in terms of mental health and depression," which can be made worse by substance abuse, Tennen said.

Schools will need additional resources for mental health when schools reopen because of the strains the pandemic has put on children, Tennen said.

Future federal support should include funding for child care and unemployment, along with food assistance, KYA said in a press release.

Tennen said programs that need to be continued include the "Pandemic EBT," which provided food assistance to families of school-age children.

State support for families should continue to be funded in the upcoming state budget that lawmakers will craft in the upcoming legislative session.

"We have to make sure there are no barriers" to accessing services, Tennen said. "There's still a long road ahead."

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse

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