Family Prosperity | Springboard to Opportunities

Jackson, Mississippi is officially in full summer mode! Not only has the heat and humidity crept back up into sweat-drenching territory, but schools have had their last days, graduations have wrapped up, and parents are desperately trying to figure out the extra expenses (like food and childcare) that come along with the summer months.

Earlier this year, we announced that, in response to Mississippi’s failure to opt-in to the new federal Summer EBT program for families, we would be providing cash disbursements to Springboard families to support the additional food costs families have during the summer. This Tuesday, we will be sending out the first disbursements. Part of our commitment in our new strategic plan is to expand our cash disbursement support in response to unexpected disasters – including policy disasters like failing to implement Summer EBT.

While we are thrilled to be helping almost 700 students have an additional layer of food security this summer, we know this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the children across Mississippi (and the other states that opted out of Summer EBT benefits) who will not have access to additional benefits this summer. That’s why we’re doing more than just giving out cash; we’re also collecting data.

It is our belief that the best policies are always grounded in trust and dignity and informed by family voice and expertise. When polled, 75% of our families reported not having sufficient food for their family’s needs during the summer months. Many state leaders who opted-out of Summer EBT claimed that families already had access to summer feeding sites, so additional benefits were unnecessary. But only 14% of Springboard families actually reported having used summer feeding sites. The inability to take children during work hours, consistent access to transportation, and insufficient information regarding site location and hours were just a few of the issues cited.

The largest percentage of families said that additional support through Pandemic EBT funds (the pandemic-era program which laid the groundwork for the new Summer EBT program) was how they met their families’ nutritional needs during the summer. Not only was it simpler than getting kids to specific places at specific times, but it provided choice and options – allowing parents to accommodate allergies, health needs, and preferences. It provides flexibility for working parents – something these same lawmakers say is a priority – and ensures children aren’t skipping or eating inadequate meals when summer sites aren’t open.

Throughout the summer, we will be capturing stories from families about how the cash is making a difference in their lives and how it shifts their ability to keep their homes stocked with enough nutritious food throughout the summer. We’ve already seen these stories and data help states like Nebraska, Louisiana, and Alabama change course and plan to opt-in to Summer EBT moving forward. We have no doubt that Mississippi can be next.

There is no denying that last 6 months have taken a toll on the mental health of every single person. There are constant unknowns, financial strains, and new anxieties for all of us. However, we have been especially concerned during these last 6 months with how these new anxieties are compounding upon the traumas the families Springboard serves face every day and have been enduring for generations.

Since the beginning, Springboard has believed in supporting a whole person and creating programs that holistically support residents because we knew it would take more than a specific skill set or one program to help residents meet their goals. Our Career Success program included a licensed social worker who individually supported families with the transition of going back to work or school. The Magnolia Mother’s Trust includes additional leadership and community support elements that help participants explore topics like self-care and creating a network of support. Our programs for middle and high school students connect young people with mentors who provide safe spaces for them to explore their identity, beliefs, and future goals.

But while we’ve known that mental health is fundamental to the work we do of supporting families, we have never had the opportunity to study its full impact and understand the implications it might have for social support policies and programs. That’s why we’re excited to once again be a partner organization in the Aspen Family Prosperity Innovation Community, an initiative of Ascend at the Aspen Institute. The Family Prosperity Community is made up of community organizations, policy groups, and thought leaders from the business world, government, and civil society with the goal of refining and amplifying fresh strategies and solutions that strengthen parents’ and families’ access to everything they need to thrive.

During our time in the cohort, we will be implementing a mental health and self-care support initiative with a group of mothers in our communities. We are partnering with organizations that intentionally take a racial and gender equity lens into mental health conversations and are experts in trauma-informed care, to develop a self-care plan for families that is culturally relevant and not steeped in consumeristic and middle-class frameworks as many self-care conversations frequently are.

When families are given the tools to take care of their mental health, particularly in the midst of a pandemic, are they able to set and work toward new goals? Do children in the household experience greater stability and participate more actively in school? Do families experience better health outcomes when they are better equipped to handle the chronic stress and trauma that comes along with being a person of color and living in poverty in this country?

These are just some the questions that we are looking to explore this year, and we are excited to do so alongside thought partners from multiple sectors and fields who can help us think through how all these pieces connect to larger policies and practices that can ultimately improve outcomes for all families. Even during this anxious time, we are excited to be embarking on new work and to be a part of a network dedicated to seeing all families thrive.