Couric & Co.
May 15, 2009 4:57 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Children of the Recession

By
Katie Couric
Topics
Katie Couric's Notebook
(CBS)
They share none of the blame for America's economic crisis, yet they shoulder all of the consequences.

That is too much of a burden for any child to bear.

Since the recession began, more than one million children have lost health insurance as their parents lose their jobs.

One in 50 American children is homeless, and as more homes go into foreclosure that number will rise.

Beginning next week, CBS News will show you the suffering the recession is causing children, and the solutions some people have found, like a program that provides temporary placement for kids whose parents just can't make ends meet, and a high school where teachers are spending their own money to pay for their students' test fees, prom dresses, in some cases, even food.

Our economy impacts banks and bottom lines, but at CBS News we're making a network-wide commitment to shine a spotlight on people we cannot afford to ignore: the Children of the Recession.

That's a page from my notebook.



Add a Comment
by bonbon818 July 28, 2009 6:05 AM EDT
My son Trevon was victimized by this report Katie and I hope you might choose to do a follow up. You interviewed him in CHICAGO for the May 18th broadcast of Children Of The Recession. He was being cared for at the time by the organization Safe Families in the CHICAGO area. A few weeks ago, the discovered that I am a Gay mom in a solid relationship with the partner whom I plan to marry in October. Safe Families turned around and with-in a couple days, discharged My son from the family he had been lovinly cared for and dumped back in my lap when I am sick, un-employed, and disabled, with no means to care for him. Safe Families abandonned him and me when I had gone to them for help, just because they found out that I'm a Gay mother. I am very sorry that I allowed trevon to participated in this series of reports on CBS. It has destryoed my family and I am now facing having to turn Trevon over to the state, possibly for good, because I have no other organization that will help. Safe Families portrays themselves as Christians helping families in need. When I needed them most, they turned their backs on my son and I and showed me that they are an organization of Homophobic hypocrites who would rather tear my family apart than help them in a time of crisis. Thank you Katie for doing this report, but it has done more damage than good. I wish I knew where to turn ..... sincerely, Che'le Grazier
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by Tshwane Pierce July 20, 2009 5:53 PM EDT
America?s At-Risk Youth (ARY) should consider the Army, which is a risk worth taking in today?s global economy. ARY is defined as individuals between the ages of 17-24 years old living below the United States? (US) poverty line of $20,000 a year/household. Why military service? Because more US households, from young to old, are feeling the negative impact of the weak global economy as 17 to 70-year-olds are unemployed, underemployed, hungry, homeless, and ill without any benefits. Americans are living longer, and therefore working longer - it appears out of necessity. Additionally, according to CBS News Katie Couric's Notebook: Children of the Recession May 15, 2009 ??since the recession began, more than one million children have lost health insurance as their parents lose their jobs, one in 50 American children is homeless, and as more homes go into foreclosure that number will rise.? Therefore ARY should consider serving our country by joining the Army for three years. During this current period of time, (recession), youth could gain greater opportunities through work experience in our nation/world and receive benefits: economical, educational, social, and medical.
A military occupation not only provides meals, a steady income, but housing, which in turn provides economic stability in an unstable economy. These benefits allow youth to have a responsible, yet healthy and comfortable household to live in who might otherwise be living with others undesirably because a single lifestyle is unaffordable. Lately, unemployment insurance claims are at an all time high as workers from all walks of life are laid off. Additionally seniors are working beyond retirement years because pension checks don?t buy as much. As a result, competition for jobs is greater, especially for ARY, who are just joining the labor force with less education and experience; thus less job opportunities with benefits.
However, youth do have an option and advantage because they can apply to the Army, which is not available to older adults, or children. Youth will find the Army as one of the most diverse employers offering free training opportunities to those who qualify. Hence, once qualified for Basic Training, which develops discipline, and Advanced Individual Training, which teaches a particular specialty; there is on-going military training to include military career courses, and college tuition assistance for civilian degree programs. Thus, the Army can offer training and educational benefits, which lead to promotion, job satisfaction and security. Equally important is soldiers? off-duty time. The opportunity to develop friendships with colleagues, neighbors, local nationals, and expatriates throughout the communities based on military affiliations is unlimited. The global and social networks can lead to huge successes and satisfaction in soldiers? personal lives also. Soldiers could develop a quality lifestyle with lifelong memories full of excitement beyond retirement. Also there is a sense of belonging and camaraderie to a community in a world where crime and terrorism exists. In a weak economy crime tends to rise in schools, in the work place, inner cities, and suburbs as people experience dissatisfaction with their lives and jobs and want to harm others; thus having friends and contacts globally becomes very important in order to survive in any potential hostile environment. The risks of course with the Army is that we are at war and soldiers could get wounded in a hostile environment. We don?t know what the odds are that all soldiers will go to war and be wounded because not all soldiers go into the battlefield and for those that do, not all get wounded. However, in the case of an emergency, or routine appointment, medical services, treatment, and facilities are available. No one can predict the future on maintaining safety and wellness for anyone, to include for family members of active duty soldiers who are also eligible for medical care. Moreover, wounded soldiers are surviving and successfully resuming their lifestyles as soldiers or civilians due to the expedient medical attention made available through modern technology and the Wounded Warrior Program. So, consider what ARY will gain versus what ARY will gain if they remain at-risk and become At-Risk Adults. I have personal experience as an ARY, and through the military I have maintained steady employment to include working at the Pentagon and not in a war zone; purchased four homes; received bachelor & master degrees; remained healthy, and made life-long friends from all over the world. Joining the Army is a step in the right direction, so why not become great American soldiers who took a risk and survived regardless of the global economy. Major Marcia Pierce, Student, CGSC, USA Combined Arms Center, Ft Belvoir, VA. 20 MAY 2009. ?The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DA, DoD, or the USG.
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by GillRay May 20, 2009 1:06 PM EDT
Thank you Katie Couric for leading this series on children of the recession. Congress has an historic opportunity to do right by children for generations to come. If they can fix the health care system for kids, that is one less worry families carry through their lives.

If you care about children in health reform, go to speaknowforkids.org and tell Congress why you care. Share your story. Get engaged. Don't let kids be left out of health care legislation that is being developed right now and will impact ALL children.
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by casey_abbott May 19, 2009 9:17 AM EDT
Havin' a kid changes everything.
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by jonesjep May 18, 2009 2:41 PM EDT
"IM A 34 YEAR OLD FIRST TIME DAD..ALSO A 10 YEAR OLD BOY FROM MOMS SIDE.I GOT LAID OFF 7 MONTH AGO.SHE WORKS AT A GAS STATION.IM LUCKY TO HAVE POWER IN MY HOUSE TO TALK TO YOU.I HAVE 3 DAYS TO PAY IT...NO MONEY...WE USED TO LOVE GARDENING,ROAD TRIPS,ECT.THERES NO MONEY,IM LUCKY MY CAR RUNS BUT THE LOVE FOR MY KIDS WILL WILL NEVER CHANGE BUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE DOES.....THANK YOU,LOVE YOUR KIDS"
.......................

I certainly would not want anyone to lose their job and I agree 100% to Love your kids. But I do have to wonder.....you still seem to have the internet?!?! Perhaps you could save a little money for your kid if you dropped internet service. Maybe if you have cable internet you could drop that expense as well. Cable/Internet has got to be over $100 a month.
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by jonesjep May 18, 2009 2:37 PM EDT
"One in 50 American children is homeless,"
........................

WRONG!!!!

This is a blatant lie that the media tried to pass a few months ago. There are ~50,000,000 children in this country and for this stat to be true there would be 1,000,000 kids walking the streets. That is NOT happening and is a complete lie. They consider kids living with a relative as "homeless"!
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by hardhit May 18, 2009 11:26 AM EDT
IM A 34 YEAR OLD FIRST TIME DAD..ALSO A 10 YEAR OLD BOY FROM MOMS SIDE.I GOT LAID OFF 7 MONTH AGO.SHE WORKS AT A GAS STATION.IM LUCKY TO HAVE POWER IN MY HOUSE TO TALK TO YOU.I HAVE 3 DAYS TO PAY IT...NO MONEY...WE USED TO LOVE GARDENING,ROAD TRIPS,ECT.THERES NO MONEY,IM LUCKY MY CAR RUNS BUT THE LOVE FOR MY KIDS WILL WILL NEVER CHANGE BUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE DOES.....THANK YOU,LOVE YOUR KIDS
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by casey_abbott May 17, 2009 11:28 AM EDT
Well, we do dream on a budget here.
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by petersemkiw May 16, 2009 2:17 AM EDT
"Children are our most valuable natural resource "
President Herbert Hoover

The upcoming CBS News series on Children of the Recession will be a very important and timely report that will make us more aware of the problems causing children to suffer during these troubled economic times, and provide information about appropriate responses and solutions ,and steps we can take to improve the lives of children suffering during this recession as well.
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by tigressreow May 15, 2009 9:23 PM EDT
Recession Children are worse off than the Children of the Depression. There are very few safety nets strung with a close knit extended family or neighbors that look out for each other. They are being left behind through no fault of their own. I look forward to
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