Questions for Students to Reflect On

 

  • Your own values and assumptions about providing support for vulnerable people
  • How government should support vulnerable populations
Discuss:

Maggie Hodgson references the importance of abiding by a set of beliefs and values to ensure that social service programming and practice is administered in a 'human way.'

  • What beliefs and values underpin Alberta's health and social service system?
  • How do these values and beliefs affect the provision of services to families with low income and consequently, the lives of these families?
  • What are some different values and beliefs that could improve the provision of services to families with low income?
One of the film's main underlying messages is ensuring clients are treated as individuals with their own stories, experiences, struggles, and hopes.

  • How can we better support frontline staff who are caught between the requirements placed on them from their system (e.g., accountability for public funds) and the requests for support from families?
A major feature of the women's stories is their ongoing struggle to meet the needs of their families. For example, one woman received a total of $1668 in income support (medical assistance) and other benefits. Her rent was $1200, so she is left with just over $400 for the rest of her family's needs (e.g., groceries, utilities, transportation, clothing, etc.).

  • A common understanding in government is that social assistance is provided as a patch over program meant to temporarily support low-income Albertans experiencing hardship. How is this belief reconciled with the reality that the amount of income support is insufficient to meet basic needs?

Background Resources

Families First Edmonton