FOOD INSECURITY IN ORANGE COUNTY BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM BY LATINO HOUSEHOLDS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Individuals are considered to be insecure in terms of food when they are unable to obtain the quantity and quality of food needed for their wellbeing and basic health.  Food pantries represent the private food emergency extended to the low income households through the dissemination of food items which require additional preparation.  The users of food pantries represent the vulnerable and highest risk of food insecure persons who are eligible to take part in the USDAs FSP (Food Stamp Program).  Most of the Latino households are eligible to receive the food stamps owing to their low income, but a substantial number of them do not receive this kind of assistance.

According to the US Census Bureau (2008), an estimated 49.2 of the Latinos are receiving food stamps while 11.8 of the Latino households are not receiving the food stamps. It puts the poverty level among the Latino households at 13.8. Despite millions of Latinos experiencing food insecurity given that they had incomes below the 130 threshold as defined by the federal poverty level, many are not receiving the food stamps.

In the Orange County, most recent statistics show that about half of the eligible participants in the food stamp programs have not been receiving this kind of assistance. Barriers to the food stamp participation among the Latino households in Orange County include the finger imaging requirement, complex and lengthy application process and the lack of knowledge about FSP eligibility.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the share Latino eligibility for the FSP program participation in Orange County dropped from 70 in 1998 to 53 in 2007.  The participation rates among the elderly have been fairly stable but the rates of participation among the children have declined remarkably dropping from 86 in 1994 to 71 in 2007.

Historically, the FSP program has always demanded that the counties are aware of the households changing circumstances on a period basis, normally on a monthly basis.  This requirement has been posing particular difficulties for the Latino working families in Orange County whose circumstances have been more likely to change compared to the non-working families. The working families normally have a low FSP participation rate compared to the families which dont work.

In an effort to reduce the stamp errors, California State imposed some erroneous office visit and paperwork requirements on the working FSP households in 2005. The USDA Quality Control systems has been evaluating the states on how well and accurately they issue the FSP benefits and at the same time imposing the fiscal sanctions on the states whose errors rates has been surpassing the national average.  Because states, including the California state  was more likely to make errors with regard to the benefit levels on the households registering fluctuating incomes (especially among the low income Latino working households) , the state was under pressure to target the increasing number of the FSP working households for the extra grilling and verifications.

These households also faced more frequent one-on-one eligibility reviews.  In the end many households including the Latino households in Orange County were driven out of the FSP program.  When the California state requested the working family to apply again for the FSP stamps for every 3 months, there was much caseload declines among the Latino working families having children compared to other counties.

Most families which abandon the TANF cash assistance programs usually have low incomes and therefore remain eligible for the FSP stamps when they get into employment.  Unfortunately, most of these eligible Latino families once they abandon the TANF are not always connected to the FSP program (TANF, 2009).  Research carried out by the Urban Institute and the Department of Human Services reveal that the less than a half of the Latinos who leave the TANF continue to take part in the FSP program despite earning low wages which makes them eligible for the food stamp program.
 Further research by Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation show that most of the Latino families who leave the TANF cash assistance program may not aware of the fact that they still remain eligible for the FSP stamps. Normally, these families are required to compel complex paperwork which details their circumstances upon leaving TANF, but many fail to understand that they are still eligible for the FSP benefits.

Besides these procedural barriers, still research indicates that most of the low income families who do not take part in the FSP program do not actually believe that they are eligible, while others believe that they qualify for just a small proportion of the FSP benefit. The procedural barriers have been very instrumental in compounding these FSP misconceptions among the Latino community in Orange County despite the outreach efforts aimed at educating the households on their potential qualifications in FSP.  Many of the Latino households are not willing to establish is they qualify, or sometimes the application process is too compels and seems to interfere with their tight work schedules.

Equity Theory
Equity theory is concerned with the fair distribution of resources (distributive justice) among the different members in the community. The fair allocation takes into consideration the amount of distributed goods, distributing procedure and the resultant patterns of distribution.  The equity theory attempts to illustrate the relational satisfaction with regard to perceptions of unfairfair resource distributions within the interpersonal relationships. It is one of the justice theories having been developed initially by John Stacey Adams in 1962, who was a behavioral and workplace psychologist (Messick  Cook, 1983).

Given that the society is faced with the limited amounts of resources and wealth, there arises the question of distributing the benefits.  According to the equity theory, the most equitable approach is to ensure a fair share to each and every individual.  But the question that lingers is what constitutes this fair share. According to Messick  Cook (1983), Equity, Equality and Need form the most common criteria. Equality will be attained by as the ultimate criterion, if the resourcesgoods are distributed equally among all the people.

 However to the individual differences on the peoples levels of need, the resultant outcome will not be equal.  As stated above, the USDA Quality Control systems has been evaluating the states on how well and accurately they issue the FSP benefits and at the same time imposing the fiscal sanctions on the states whose errors rates has been surpassing the national average.  Because states, including the California state  was more likely to make errors with regard to the benefit levels on the households registering fluctuating incomes (especially among the low income Latino working households) , the state was under pressure to target the increasing number of the FSP working households for the extra grilling and verifications.

This theory postulates that the individuals who perceive to be under-rewarded are likely to experience distress and this causes one to strive towards achieving the equity in the relationship. It is focus is on whether the resource distribution is fair to all relational partners.  To measure equity in a relationship, a comparison of the contributions and benefit ratios is done for each person. The partners do not have to be recipients of the same amount of benefits such as financial security and they dont have to make equal contributions like investing in the same amount of time, effort and financial resources (Roger Masters, 1964).

This becomes the avenue of distributing the resources to those in need to attain equitable outcomes.  In any case, those who are in need will be entitled to more resources through need based additional distribution.  The varied forms of distributions advance varied social goals.  Roger Masters (1964) states that for a society to effectively function, it is necessary that it engages in effective and efficient production, maintain its membership, and sustain its members well being.  He further states that the theory of distributive justice evolves out of these concerns.  Equal distribution is extending to peoples full-fledged membership.

The theory of equity ensures that those in needy have the essential and basic resources available to them.  Regardless of which principle of is adopted a political system which is characterized by competition, social welfare and equality safety nets will arise.  There are those who believe that a just distribution is measured by the outcome, while others believe that it is only equitable if only the distribution rules are adhered to. Proponents of the latter argue that even if the rules if the resultant outcomes if fair in terms of distribution, the principlesprocedures utilized might be unjust. John Rawls states that the aim of distributive justice is to inhibit the influence of luck on through the fair distribution of goods and services and therefore bring advantage to everyone.

According to the theory of equity, a sense of justice arises when individual believe that the resultant distribution is not in balance with the results other people like them in similar circumstances have received.  And if this is the case, this people will attempt to address the imbalance by challenging the system which has given rise to this scenario. This is likely if the peoples needs are not being adequately addressed, and there exist a lot of discrepancies between those have and those who dont have.  Therefore redistribution of benefits will most of the times bring relief and create a more stable society.  This kind of distribution is a crucial component of remedial social structural changes (Morton, 2000).

According to Mills (2003), a person will consider that heshe is treated fairly if heshe perceives that the ratio of inputs to the outcomes is equal to those who may be around them in the same circumstances.  In this case, this contravenes the Equity Theory (theory of justice) which implies that the outcomes should be directly related to the quantity and quality of the employees inputs (contributions).  If the employees are rewarded commensurably, then that would assist the employees experience the organization as being observant, fair and appreciative.

Just like other motivational theories, Equity Theory acknowledges the variable and subtle individual factors which affect peoples perception and assessment.

It has been acknowledged in the Food Stamp Program that apart from the procedural barrier factors, some Latino households are reluctant to participate in the food program because they may be unable to reciprocate in kind.  They avoid the underserved benefits because these FSP benefits only places them in undesirable partnerships with the USDA in the relationship. Inequitable partnerships are very unpleasant relationship according to the Equity Theory and individuals always strive to avoid them at all costs.

These Latino households will avoid these assistances because they cannot repay the USDA in kind, because to accept such help implies that the recipient is under obligation to repay the benefactor for an indefinite period in myriad unspecified ways. The Latino household FSP recipients may be worried that the USDA may attempt to extract even greater repayments than what these households are willing to give away, if the conditions are known in time. Messick  Cook (1983) states that if anyone accepts from another person a survive or provision and fail to repay it in kind then a feeling of inferiority engulfs himher as cost of receiving the service.  Therefore the esteem heshe foregoes by accepting the FSP stamps cannot be recovered.
 
Several studies on the application of Equity Theory point to the fact that individuals prefer a benefactor who can be easily reciprocate against those whom they cannot reciprocate this generosity. The FSP programs enable the participants to qualify for the following deductions
A 20  deduction from the participants earned income
Dependent care deduction when required for training, work and education
A deduction of  141 for the households with sizes of 1-3 peoples while those households with sizes of 4 people have deductions of  153
The medical expenses for the disabled and the elderly members which are higher than  35 per month if they are not catered for by the insurance
The legally owed support payments for the children
 The California state allows the Latino homeless households a set amount of  143 for the purposes of shelter

In line with Equity Theory, food stamps which can be reciprocated are preferred against the notion that they cannot be repaid.  Gergen (2006) observed that food aids which are accompanied by clearly stated objectives and obligations are more preferable than the food stamps which are not accompanied with the obligations.  Presumably, the food stamps which can be easily and exactly reciprocated are more preferable than those which cannot be reciprocated and those which require more reciprocation

Social construction
Social construction is a sociological theory of knowledge which considers how the social phenomena develop in the social contexts (Hacking, 1999). Within the thought of constructionist, a social construction is the practice of concept which is the creation of a particular group (Berger  Luckmann, 1966). They are normally understood to be the countless human choices compared to the laws resulting from the divine nature or will. Social constructionism is normally opposed to essentialism (Gourevitch, 1997).  The major focus of social constructionism is to unravel the manner in which groups and individuals participate in the formation of perceived social realities (Hacking, 1999).  It entails investigating the ways in which the social phenomena are institutionalized and created and eventually formed into tradition by humans.

 A socially formed reality is encapsulated as a dynamic, ongoing process which is reproduced by the individual acting on the interpretations and their perceived knowledge of it. Behaviorist learning is concerned with behavioral changes that are observable. Behaviorism looks at automatic behaviors that are products of repeated patterns of behavior. This theory critically looks at studies of overt behaviors that are measurable and observable (Berger  Luckmann, 1966). It has consistently assumed that free will is an illusion, and it further asserts that every behavioral pattern is a product of the prevailing environment determined by reinforcements and associational mechanisms.

Social construction prevailed together with the psychoanalysis movements of the 20th century and was mainly influenced by Skinner, Pavlov and Watson. In his arguments Watson dismissed introspective criterion and hence he sought out to limit psychology to scientific methods of experimental laboratory. On the other hand Pavlov sought to study the classical conditioning whereas Skinner investigated pragmatism and narrowed it to the ethical behaviorism.

In this broad context, there exist various emphases. Some social constructionists have demonstrated that the most convenient criteria of analyzing mental and psychological procedures are through the observation of the behavior in question. The cultural environment is the determinant factor in shaping human behavior and personality of a person (Gourevitch, 1997).  In behaviorism, physical actions such as feeling and thinking are referred to as behaviors. These social behaviors can be scientifically described without much concern to physiological actions including the mind. The position of behaviorism is that every theory must inculcate observational factors although there isnt any evident philosophical relationship between public actions and private feelings (Hacking, 1999).

According to the social constructs, food stamps are socially constructed and therefore biologically are inevitable because it is highly contingent on the historical and social processes. Besides, depending on who is making the claim about the food stamps especially among the Latinos in Orange County, it may imply that our current understanding of the term is harmful and therefore should be eliminated or modified, to the best possible extent (Berger  Luckmann,1966).

According to Foucault (2006), social construction the social construction claims are not always clear on what is implied by inevitable or what exactly should be removed.  It implies that the food stamp programs are determined by the things of nature or is inevitable. But this may also imply that our understanding of food stamps (conceptualization) is inevitable.  On taking on this meaning, we imply that the food stamps are socially constructed and that they are real (Foucault, 2006).  While a legitimate basis of food stamps may exist, the societys perception of food stamps may be socially constructed.  The federal government has laid down procedures with regard to the threshold in terms of incomes for the households to benefit from the FSP program. Those whose incomes are above this category will not automatically qualify for this aid.

Therefore the FSP income threshold is not inevitable but it is historically contingent.  To see how the social constructions has been deployed in the food stamp program among the Latino households in Orange county, there is need to see how the food stamp eligibility has been socially constructed.

Resources
To participate in the food stamp program, the households must demonstrate that they have  2000 in terms of countable resources for instance a bank account or for that matter 3000 in terms of countable resources in case one individual is 60 years or older or disabled.  It is prudent to mention that other resources are not mentioned such as lot and home, the resources from the people who receive the SSI (Supplemental Security Income), retirement plans and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

The licensed vehicles do not qualify if they are
Yearly generate income which is consistent with the fair market value
Are used for the income generating purposes
They are required for the long distance work travel other than for commuting daily
Utilized at home
Are required to carry around the households water or fuel
Are required to transport the physically disabled member of the household.

Income
The households must satisfy the income tests except where all the members are receiving the SSI, TANF or some other general assistance.  The households must meet the net and gross income tests, though the households with the elderly persons with those having disability persons receiving the payments.  The Latino households which have the incomes over the listed amounts do not qualify for the FSP benefits

Household size Gross monthly income(130 percent of poverty) Net monthly income(100 percent of poverty) 1 1,174 9032 1,5791,2153 1,9841,5264 2,3891,8385 2,7942,1506 3,2002,4617 3,6052,7738 4,0103,085Each additional member 406312
Source United States Department of Agriculture (2009). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from httpwww.fns.usda.govFSPapplicant_recipientseligibility.htm
The Adjusted Income Test is done when one shows that they dont exceed the legalized gross income and in this case their eligibility will be determined by the adjusted net income.  This is carried out by deducting certain amount of unearned income, work expenses and other permissible deductions from the monthly gross. Other factors are considered if the household is disabled or has persons beyond the age of 60 years.

Residency and Citizenships
Only the United States legal residents and citizens may qualify to receive the food programs. This social contructionism ensures that the citizens, non-legal residents and legal residents who may be shopping, living and preparing the food with those who are eligible in the households will not receive the food stamps (Berger  Luckmann, 1966).  Therefore to determine eligibility, the USDA will consider all the households incomes (DSS Food Stamp Program).  Therefore the FSP income threshold is not inevitable but it is historically contingent according to social constructivism (Berger  Luckmann, 1966).  According to Berger  Luckmann (1966), the FSP programs and the segregation of the Latino households in Orange County is humanely produced and subjectively constructed.
What emerges from social construction is that social order is a human product. In this case the Food Stamp Program (FSP) is produced by man owing to his ongoing externalization. According to this theory, FSP is not biologically derived or given in the empirical manifestations. Social order does not form a portion of nature and it cant be derived from its laws either, such programs exists only as a result of human activity. There is no other ontological status which may necessarily be ascribed to it without obfuscating the empirical manifestations.   Therefore such programs can only exist in so far as the human activity which produced them continues to exist.   The externalization of these social products is a matter of anthropological necessity.  Despite the fact that humans represent the quiescent inferiority of closed sphere, the continually externalize themselves.  This anthropological necessity is innately grounded in humans biological equipment.

Interpretivism
Interpretivism rests upon the concept of ideals. It holds that the world is but a creation of mind and which implies that it can be interpreted by the mind. This causes us to introduce certain classifications depending on how we interpret our day to day life for instance classification of insects, mammals, birds and insects.  According to interpretivism, we may not know the true nature of the world, apart from our separate perceptions of it (Foucault, 2006).

Weber had a belief that those things which existed in the space were mere appearances and do not have any independent existence from the thoughts.  It is difficult to investigate the social world without first having to investigate how the individuals use symbols and language, the experiences and social practices which accompany them. Only when individuals come to comprehend the individual experiences and their associated subjective interpretations, can we understand why the social actors will have to behave in certain ways (Habermas, 2002). Weber argues that dawn of capitalism could be well explained by the predestination doctrine.

Interpretivism is about power, law and struggle for social change.  It is a general framework utilized to conceptualize how the human rights are conventions in social justice.  The legal notions such as rights, discriminations, equality causes people to mobilize and engage in social struggles which influence their rhetorical and substantive positions that articulate. Any institutional human forms are subject to various contingencies whereby no theory can predict with any amount of accuracy
He stated that after comprehending the social actors interpretations and meanings, and then we could explain why the Latino households after leaving TANF program may not join the FSP program.  Their belief made them to act in certain manner.  The social world surrounding them in Orange County made them to create purposeful actions in relation to the food programs out of their conscious agents. Therefore according to Weber, interpretivism may not be complete without the adequate description of the role played by the meanings in the actions of humans

0 comments:

Post a Comment