Economic Self-Sufficiency

Promoting Economic Self-Sufficiency: Defining the Problem

Seeking to narrow priorities for action in the area of economic self-sufficiency, Nokomis focuses on systemic barriers to financial stability among women who earn between $20,000-$40,000 annually.  Such women, sometimes referred to as comprising the �missing class� or �near poor� lack resources to provide for the basic needs of the families which they often head. They work at low wage jobs and are unable to reduce debt or save for any contingencies. They are frequently at risk of falling back into poverty no matter how hard they work to escape its grip because of structural inequities related to eligibility requirements for subsidies and other supportive services.

In addition to reviewing the research about the status of low wage earning women, we convened focus groups throughout the state with affected women and held forums with key Michigan leaders and service providers. All who participated shed light on a sometimes invisible problem and provided insight and direction that helped us shape an agenda for Nokomis.

Promoting Economic Self-Sufficiency: Identifying the Elements

Economic self-sufficiency for women and their families rests on elements that provide stability for everyone in our society:
�    Living wage work
�    Secure housing
�    Access to health care
�    Reliable, quality childcare.

Related issues include pathways to work, education and training, occupational segregation and removal of barriers such as transportation and child support.

Promoting Economic Self-Sufficiency: Removing Barriers to Health Care

For a number of reasons, Nokomis has decided to focus on access to health care as our first initiative in promoting economic self-sufficiency.   The timing is right and the need is great to make this issue a priority.  Nokomis will have an opportunity to be part of a national conversation, collaborate with other change agents, convene subject matter experts and support advocates.

The Nokomis Foundation is committed to:

�    creating public understanding that inadequate access to secure health care is a barrier to economic self-sufficiency with long-term cross-generational consequences,
�    demonstrating the personal and societal economic burden of untreated disease among women, including untreated mental illness,
�    supporting access to prevention services, and
�    being a voice at the table of health care reform that insists on the necessity for access to comprehensive reproductive health care for all women across their lifespan.

We are committed to removing health care as a barrier to economic self-sufficiency for women through supporting efforts for a creating and implementing a non-partisan public policy agenda that includes preserving consumer choice, lowering costs of care and offering universal coverage and access.