"Poverty Simulation"

The Human Services and Community Health Coalition of Lyons County, Nevada trained its employees by having them "simulate" poverty (see article here). The effects of the "simulation" are telling - poor parents simply don't have time for their children. This is important to consider, given political conservatives' emphasis on "family values" and on the parenting practices of the poor. Certainly, such cultural aspects matter, but how much?

After the simulation, participants had the opportunity to share their experience and express the frustration, anxiety and stress that encompassed the simulation. One "parent" noted how little time she had to spend with her children because her time was consumed with trying to figure out how she was going to deal with the next crisis.

"There was never time to just spend with my children, and as a result, they were constantly in trouble at school".