Support for a Children and Families Agenda January 24, 2016 Celinda Lake Brian Nienaber Lake Research Partners Washington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NY LakeResearch.com 202.776.9066
Methodology Election Eve Omnibus Survey • Lake Research Partners designed and administered this pre-election and election night omnibus survey, which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers. The survey reached a total of 2,400 likely voters nationwide. The sample consisted of 1401 interviews among voters who were reached on cell phones and 999 interviews among voters reached on landlines. Issue questions reached a total of 1,200 likely voters nationwide who voted in the 2016 elections (margin of error of +/-2.8%). The survey was conducted November 6th through November 8th, 2016. • Telephone numbers were drawn from the Catalist voter file. The sample was stratified geographically based on the proportion of likely voters in each region. The data were weighted to reflect the aggregated Presidential vote as reported in the 2016 exit polls, as well as by gender, age, race, party identification, education, marital status, union household, and census region to reflect the actual proportions of the electorate. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.0% at the 95% confidence interval. • Due to rounding some of the numbers in the presentation will not always add to 100%. Focus Groups • Lake Research Partners conducted a recent set of focus groups with parents of children under the age of 5 in Denver on October 24, Cleveland on October 25, and Philadelphia on October 27. In Denver, there was a group of low income mixed-race mothers and a group of Latino custodial fathers. In Cleveland, there was a group of low income mixed-race pregnant women or mothers under the age of 25, and a group of low-income African American mothers. In Philadelphia, there was a group of low-income Latina mothers and low-income non- custodial white fathers. 2
Summary of October Focus Groups
Key Findings – Highlights from October Focus Groups • Parents see obvious practical improvements – bus passes, childcare. • Parent centers: should have area for children to play, helpful staff, useful information. • Strong and overwhelming support for changing eligibility requirements to prevent sudden cut off. • Education should count toward work requirements • Affordable childcare is paramount, even when looking for work. 4
Support for a Two Generation Approach
Support for a two generation program that helps parents get education and skills training to get a better job, has increased since 2012. Tax sensitivity remains, but a 56 percent majority strongly favor it even if it increased their taxes. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools… …even if it increased your taxes. 86 74 75 56 21 9 12 6 Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Sept. Sept. 2012 2012 81 15 70 25 6 *Split Sampled Questions
Clinton and Trump voters all favor a two generation program even if it increased their taxes. One program designed to help people who are living in poverty get out of poverty targets both parents and their children, so that parents get education and skills training to get a better job and at the same time their children get a good start with head start, early education, and quality schools… …even if it increased your taxes. Total Oppose Total Favor Total Oppose Total Favor Voted Clinton 3 96 Voted Clinton 4 90 Voted Trump 16 77 Voted Trump 34 60 Men Trump Voters 24 69 Men Trump Voters 35 57 Women Trump Voters 8 86 Women Trump Voters 33 64 White Non College Men 19 77 White Non College Men 30 61 7 *Split Sampled Questions
Voters identify K-12 as a top priority, but also strongly prioritize helping children and the adults in their lives get out of poverty. How important of a priority it should be for the next president and Congress? Gender Age Race Vote Rural WNC % Top Priority= 10 Total M W <50 50+ Wh AA Lat DJT HRC * M Improving K through 12 45 33 56 43 48 39 63 56 35 53 * 28 education* Helping children and the adults 26 49 39 36 31 64 47 28 49 * 27 in their lives get out of poverty* 38 Helping children and their 36 34 37 34 38 30 60 46 22 48 * 29 parents get out of poverty* Making higher education more 33 30 35 33 33 26 61 46 20 45 * 25 affordable* Investing in early learning and 31 31 25 57 38 18 34 34 22 31 27 35 high quality childcare Allowing people who work to 20 32 27 26 23 49 23 23 40 23 19 take paid time off to care for 26 themselves or a family member 8 *Split Sampled Questions; N too small for analysis among Rural voters
Voters overwhelmingly say if we want to make sure low income children are successful in their early learning, we have to also invest in their parent’s economic well -being. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: If we want to make sure low income children are successful in their early learning, then we have to also invest in their parent's economic well-being. Total Disagree Total Agree 76 Voted Clinton 6 91 Voted Trump 33 62 Men Trump Voters 36 59 60 20 Women Trump Voters 30 66 12 Rural 19 74 Agree Disagree Darker Colors Indicate Intensity White Non College Men 29 65 Agree Disagree Nov. 9 2014 69 26
Focus group participants believe parents would benefit most from these policies, but the whole family would benefit from the programs offered. Moderator: Who would benefit from these programs? “The kid and the parent would have to benefit because it would take some of that weight off [my] shoulders. Man, this is good for your mental health and not just financially.” – White Father, Philadelphia “I feel like if there wasn’t a lot of the programs that there is today, a lot more like parents would be out on the street with their kids.” – Young White Mother, Cleveland “I think the focus is a lot on the children, but just as the family as a whole. Building and having your basic necessities to having the resources to being a good example through showing your progression to your family and to your kids and everyone being treated together as a unit as opposed to just individual portions of it." – Latino Father, Denver 10
Though slightly down from 2014, three-quarters of voters support creating partnerships to provide services to low income students who have young children and year round access to financial aid plans for certificate programs, including majorities across party lines. Nearly 25 percent of college students, or 4 million people, are parents. Do you favor or oppose: Creating partnerships between private, state, Providing low-income students who have young and community colleges and universities with children year-round access to financial aid plans government and non-profit organizations to for certificate programs so that they can maintain provide services for low-income students who full-time student status. have young children. % Favor by Party ID % Favor by Party ID 76 75 Dem 89 Dem 87 Ind 69 Ind 75 Rep 63 Rep 64 59 58 18 18 11 10 Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Sept. Sept. 2012 2012 86 12 11 88 10 Darker Colors Indicate Intensity *Split Sampled Questions
More than 7 in 10 voters favor making parents enrolled in college or workforce training programs eligible for state-funded childcare subsidies. Majority support crosses party lines, 59 percent of those who voted for Trump also favor of this proposal, including 64 percent of women who voted for Trump. Do you favor or oppose making parents enrolled in college or workforce training programs eligible for state-funded childcare subsidies? [IF CHOICE] And is that strongly or not so strongly? 72 Total Oppose Total Favor Voted Clinton 9 87 Voted Trump 33 59 Men Trump Voters 37 55 55 20 Women Trump Voters 28 64 13 Rural 24 68 Favor Oppose White Non College Men 30 62 Favor Oppose Sept. 2014 73 24 12 Darker Colors Indicate Intensity
Focus group participants identify childcare as a barrier to being able to get ahead. Moderator: What are some barriers in your life from keeping you from getting ahead? “Childcare. Let’s say there is a family that is out of work or a single mom for example, if they would offer free childcare for the children, she could go out and look for work. She could go do whatever she needs to do to get back on her feet, but when you are in a shitty situation, you are pretty much stuck there.” – White Father, Philadelphia “Mothers losing their jobs because they don’t have the right childcare…hey, I can’t come in because there is no one to watch my child.” – Young Latina Mother, Cleveland 13
Economic Supports and Human Services
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