THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MANY PARENTS’ MINDS DURING THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, COUNTLESS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION FROM IN-PERSON TO ONLINE LEARNING.

BUT FOR FAMILIES IN SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, THE SCHOOL CLOSURES BECOME A DOUBLE-WHAMMY.

SEATTLE FAMILY Lourdes Silva/Mother of 4/Seattle, WA]
Source: Translation by Daughter, Michelle Machuca
01:26 “IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT SINCE THE BEGINNING, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE LITTLE ONES AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP THEM MUCH BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW MUCH ENGLISH.” (:10)

LOURDES SILVA AND HER HUSBAND HAVE 4 CHILDREN, 2 IN SEATTLE-AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

NOW JOBLESS, THEY’RE RELYING ON GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILY.

SEATTLE FAMILY INTVW PART 1
[SOT: Lourdes Silva/Mother of 4/Seattle, WA]
Source: Translation by Daughter, Michelle Machuca
“I DIDN’T HAVE THE COMPUTERS OR OTHER MATERIALS THEY WANTED US TO HAVE IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THESE REQUESTS.” (:05)

IT’S A SCENE BEING PLAYED OUT IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

[[SOT: Megan Curran, Research Scientist/Center on Poverty and Social Policy]
“EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, KIDS CAN’T LEARN IF THEY’RE HUNGRY OR IF THEY’RE NOT FEELING SAFE, OR IF THEIR HOUSING IS INSECURE.” (:08)

NOW WITH COVID, THE LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGHLIGHTED…AS SCHOOLS HAVE MOVED TO ONLINE LEARNING.

[SOT: Megan Curran, Research Scientist/Center on Poverty and Social Policy]
10:38 “THERE WAS CLOSE TO 12 MILLION SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WHO DIDN’T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET AT HOME BEFORE COVID HIT.” (:05)

FOR LOURDES AND HER KIDS, GOVERNMENT-SUPPLIED COMPUTERS WERE A GAME-CHANGER, BUT THE FEAR IS STILL THERE.

[SOT: Lourdes Silva, Mother of 4/Seattle, WA]
Source: Translation by Daughter, Michelle Machuca
“ONE OF MY BIGGEST WORRIES WAS FOR THEM TO LOSE THEIR YEAR OF SCHOOL, TO FLUNK BASICALLY.” (:04)

WHERE DOES THE SOLUTION BEGIN?

[SOT: Megan Curran, Research Scientist/Center on Poverty and Social Policy]
12:55 “WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND WITH FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, HAVE ACCESS TO THE MOST CRITICAL AND FLEXIBLE RESOURCE THERE IS, WHICH IS CASH.” (:08)

CASH, AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WILL BRIDGE THE GAP THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC - WITH THOSE THAT COULD COME AFTER THE CRISIS.