Trapped by Poverty

Jesse's aspirations are not extraordinary. She wants to get good grades, go to school dances, and get into college. Yet these modest goals are nearly impossible against the backdrop of Jessie's life—a life of hunger, worry and constant sacrifice.



Jessie's Story

Over 12 million American kids suffer from poverty, and it infects every aspect of their lives—from family relations, to school friendships to dreams for the future. Jesse Staley, a teenager from Harts, West Virginia dreams of graduating from high school and attending prom. While her friends buy prom dresses and arrange after parties, she struggles to feed her sisters and brothers. As other families choose between colleges, hers much choose between medical care and welfare.

As many of her friends live the life a carefree adolescent, Jesse assumes the role of the caretaker in her family. The oldest of three children, she must look after her siblings while her father ekes out a living driving a truck. Her father is a hardworking man, but his 12 to15-hour shifts don't provide enough income to pay the bills. She begins her days early, after her father leaves for work. She wakes up her brother and sister, feeds them and sends them to school. After attending classes all day, she fixes dinner, helps her siblings with class assignments and puts them to bed--all before starting her own homework.

Although the family isn't homeless, they have only $120 each month to buy food. Often, there isn't enough to last the month, so Jessie is forced to turn to charities like Save the Children for help. Her family suffers from the constant struggle to make ends meet. For example, choosing inexpensive over healthy foods has hurt the family's health; Jessie's father has a heart condition and struggles against obesity--the result of high fat, processed foods that so frequently make up a low-income diet.

Jessie's dream of going to college is tempered by fears that her father will need her close to home, especially as he faces growing health problems. It's a sad fact that in America, where there is no universal health coverage, many families face the same terrible choice as Jessie's father between working for a living without health insurance or taking welfare in order to receive state-provided medical care.

What's Next for Jessie?

Since she was featured in Showtime's What's Going On? Jessie has stayed involved with Upward Bound, a program that helps poor kids go to college. Jessie dreams of bettering herself through education, and works hard to get the grades needed for scholarships. But she has a long struggle ahead.

"For kids like Jessie, the issue isn't just money," remarked Michael Tierney, Director of Step-by-Step, a group that supports West Virginia's poor, rural communities. "There's a real lack of social service organizations in rural areas, specifically mental health services. There is also a lack of opportunities for kids to create their own networks for success. Without money or resources, it's difficult for them to build a bigger world for themselves."

Today, Step-by-Step is helping Jessie by giving her the support she needs through youth leadership and other programs at the Big Ugly Community Center. They're starting to involve Jessie's siblings, too.

What Can You Do?

Article 24 of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child in the world - regardless of race, sex or nationality - has the right to nutritious food and healthcare. It is hard to believe that in a country as prosperous as the United States, children like Jessie go hungry every day - and yet 9 million of them do. In fact, the United States has twice as many poor children than any other developed country.

What can you do to help? Many organizations work with poor families, and Save the Children can connect you with those in your area. Partnerships between these organizations and individuals, families or businesses are a great way to have a real, positive impact on a child's life.