HSE 480 FINAL 2-2 Milestone One

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1 2-2 Milestone One: Overview of Community and Problem Chelsey Riley Southern New Hampshire University HSE 480- Human Services Capstone Professor Barton 07/10/2022

2 Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… ...... pg.3 Overview of the Community and Problem………………………………………………...pg.3 Formal and Informal Resources……………………………………………………………pg.4 Community Social, Political, and Historical Trends…………………………………… ..... pg.5 Key Stakeholders…………………………………………………………………………...pg.6 Cultural Considerations…………………………………………………………………….pg.7 Legal Issues…………………………………………………………………………………pg.7 Ethical Issues………………………………………………………………………………..pg.8

3 Introduction In 2020, there were 42.31 million people living in poverty in the United States. Also in 2020, in the United States, the violent crime rate was at 398.5 cases per 100,000 people and the total rate of property crimes was 1,958.2 cases per 100,000 people (Statista Research Department, 2021). The focus of this project will be on the possibility of there being a co- occurring issue amongst Metcalfe Parks poverty and crime rate, as these could possibly go hand in hand. Overview of Community and Problem Community Metcalfe Park is an urban neighborhood, located in Milwaukee, WI and is home to 2,673 people (NeighborhoodScout, n.d.). Most of the community members are liberal and speak English, while some speak either Spanish or Polish (Niche, 2022). Most of the houses in Metcalfe Park were built before 1939, and most of the homes are wood frame, two-story duplexes and bungalows spaced tightly together. Throughout the neighborhood you will see many empty lots, although a few have been transformed into pocket parks. You will also see heavy industrial areas and green space which is occupied by two playgrounds Metcalfe and Butterfly Park. Metcalfe Park is predominantly home to African Americans which make up 88.28% of the population, followed by 5.50% Caucasian, 4.80% Asian, and the remaining 1.42% listed as other (Areavibes, n.d.). Unfortunately, Milwaukee is one of the most black-white segregated cities in the United States. Metcalfe Park also has more single mother households than 99.3% of the neighborhoods in the United States. Another socio-economic disadvantage is that 68.8% of the community has completed 8 th grade and 67.2% have completed high school. School test scores here are 63%

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4 lower than the national average, making jobs and furthering their education limited (NeighborhoodScout, n.d.). How can Metcalfe Park be provided with resources, so the community has less socio-economic disadvantages? Problem Scott Decker, an Arizona State University criminology, and a criminal-justice professor stated that a wide range of factors determine crime in a neighborhood. These factors include poverty, single-family homes, graduation rates, and lack of economic mobility. Scott also states that “an area with significant socio-economic disadvantages is more likely to have a higher violent crime rate than an area with more opportunities for its residents” (Jurberg, 2021). Unfortunately, in Metcalfe Park all these socio-economic disadvantages are prevalent. Sadly, poverty affects 74.7% of the children living here as well (NeighborhoodScout, n.d.) . Not only are residents living in poverty, but they are also exposed to a high rate of crime. In the 2020 calendar year, the FBI reported 10,492 crimes, most of these being murder and theft of property. Metcalfe Parks currently holds the crime rate is 139% higher than the Milwaukee average and 273% higher than the United States average. What makes this even more concerning is the violent crime rate is 1124% greater than the national average (Jurberg, 2021). Currently, the poverty rate in Metcalfe Park exceeds 60% of the whole city. Formal and Informal Resources The Social Development Commission (SDC) serves as a planner, coordinator, and provider of human service programs for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee, WI. Programs through SDC that would be beneficial to residents in Metcalfe Park, Milwaukee would be the Milwaukee Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the educational services. Milwaukee Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps citizens of Milwaukee stay in their

5 homes so that renters can get back on their feet. If you have experienced financial loss due to the pandemic, this program may be able to assist you with paying current or late rent, electric bill, gas bill, water bill, and security deposit. This program does require citizens to fill out applications and meet specific criteria before qualifying for assistance (Kujjo, 2022, Emergency). The educational services would allow for adults of all ages earn their GED or High School Equivalency Diploma by preparing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the material in each subject (Kujjo, 2022, Education). This is essential because many residents in Metcalfe Park do not have a high school diploma, therefore it interferes with their ability to obtain employment. Another resource in Milwaukee, WI would be the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission provides the community with basic needs such as nutritious meals, safe shelter, and clean clothing. They also provide recovery in areas such as addiction treatment, education, job training, counseling, mentorship, and other long-term programs. They also use a Christ centered instructions towards academics, character development and preparing for a future career (Milwaukee Rescue Mission, 2022). Citizens can also utilize resources such as the local Milwaukee Food Pantry and Boys and Girls Club. The Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, a federally organized group, works to promote healthy neighborhoods. Milwaukee was one of the four cities chosen to participate in this program (Johnson, 2014). “Arms Around Us”, which included the Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods, linked arms to display physical unity and a commitment to working together to rejuvenate their communities. Hundreds of residents, police officers and elected officials attended this event.

6 Community Social, Political, Historical Trends For the first time in 176 years, Cavalier Johnson was the first black mayor elected in the history of Milwaukee. Johnson recently announced a public safety plan to tackle gun violence, car thefts, and reckless driving in Milwaukee. He plans to ramp up the city’s law enforcement to deal with the rising number of violent crimes, create resources to promote community healing and provide neighborhood-level support to address the root causes of violence. This idea came after again Milwaukee had another record-breaking year of homicides at 205 reported killings in 2021. In 2021, more than 11,500 vehicles were stolen and 65 people died because of reckless driving. Governor Tony Evers funneled $8 million to Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention Program (Swales, 2022). Johnson plans to invest in $5 million more to help expand more programs for Milwaukee citizens. One reason that Milwaukee’s poverty level is so high involves the changes that the city went through in the 70s and 80s when manufacturing jobs left the city due to The Great Recession. David Pate, a UW Milwaukee professor stated, "we have not had the same possibilities for people to have access to jobs that may not have required a high school degree” and "particularly for low-income black families," David Pate also states that, "one of the biggest issues is, unfortunately, we have very high rates of mass incarceration. So, anyone with a criminal record, oftentimes, may be denied access to employment.” This is important because the city needs to find a way to not let employers hold incarceration against community members seeking employment (Silver, 2018). Key Stakeholders I feel that many people would be interested in the crime and poverty rate in Metcalfe Park, as these are extreme issues that are worldwide. The Milwaukee advisory board provides

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7 both leadership opportunities for residents and an opportunity to be a part of positive changes in their neighborhoods. They are in partnership with the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP) Metcalfe Park and key partners are Next Door and the Fitzimonds location Boys and Girls Club. Other people that would be interested in my project would be the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee police chief, Ed Flynn. Since the police respond to crime scenes, they can gather data on the types of crimes that are being committed and could better assist with what resources are needed for those who commit crimes. I also believe that the city mayor, Cavalier Johnson would be interested in my project because he is responsible for implementing change within the city. Community activists and the alderman, Russell W. Stamper II would also be interested and community members because they are affected directly by the poverty and crime rate. Cultural Considerations Metcalfe Park faces many socio-economic disadvantages such as lack of education, lack of transportation, unemployment rate and single parent homes. Years of housing discrimination combined with the hollowing of the industrial core and a poor connection to transportation have left thousands segregated in impoverished communities (Metcalfe Park, 2016). In Metcalfe Park, 42% of the households are headed by single females, compared to the 22% citywide rate. Another consideration is that 1/3 or 33% of the households do not have access to a vehicle, compared to the 18% citywide. Nearly a quarter or 25% of community members ages 20-64 years old are unemployed and are actively seeking employment, compared with 12% citywide. Among Metcalfe Park residents 18- 24 years of age, 28% of males and 32% of females have no high school diploma, a higher percentage than the city overall 21% and 13% respectively (Metcalfe Park, 2016). When working with this community, human service

8 professionals should take these numbers into consideration. Metcalfe Park has a significant poverty and crime rate, but they also unfortunately hold many other disadvantages within their community. Legal Issues Laws are constantly changing and will vary state to state. It is important as human service professionals that we are educating ourselves and understand the laws that are specific to the state we work in to avoid legal repercussions due to violating laws. Due to clients becoming more aware of their rights and their readiness to seek legal precautions if they are given real or presumably false information, understanding legal issues is becoming significantly more important for human service professionals. When addressing the many socio-economic disadvantages that Metcalfe Park faces, it is important as human service professionals that we know the limit and scope of their professional knowledge, meaning that we may not provide clients with any information outside of our knowledge, skill base, and scope of practice, as stated in Standard 27 (Scott, n.d.). Another legal issue that needs to be followed is 42 CFR Part 2 because this services to protect patient records that are federally assisted programs for treating substance use disorders. This is especially important because it restricts the disclosure of these records without the patient’s consent. The only way these records can be disclosed is in a medical emergency, audit, program evaluation or court order. As human service professionals we are also mandated reporters and must report if there is a threat to harm themselves or others or if there is abuse towards a vulnerable population such as elderly or children. Additionally, human service professionals are obligated to abide by HIPAA and confidentiality laws and regulations. This relates to the social problem of crime because until proven innocent all people are presumably innocent until proven guilty, therefore you would be

9 violating HIPAA to expose this information publicly until there has been a conviction. It is important that we are not passing judgement and that we provide them with the respect they deserve, especially when working with those living in poverty. It is also important that we know what information can and cannot be shared with certain individuals and what forms are needed to release such information (e.g., informed consent forms). Breaking HIPAA and confidentiality laws could result in jail time, fines, loss of clients and damage your reputation as a business. Ethical Issues Standards 1 states that “human service professionals recognize and build on client and community strengths”. This is important because Milwaukee is a huge city with many neighborhoods within, therefore the city could utilize its resources more efficiently to minimize crime and poverty. I also feel that standard 7 that as “professionals that we must refrain from imposing our values and beliefs on the clients” (Scott, n.d.). It is important that we do not judge or belittle our clients due to their hardships. I would also use Standard 10 because it states that we must provide services without discrimination regarding a person’s “socioeconomic status, language preference, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, the counseling that we provide individuals or families should be genuine, non-bias and helpful” (Scott, n.d.). Standard 16, “human service professionals advocate for social justice and seek to eliminate oppression. They raise awareness of underserved population in their communities and with the legislative system” (Scott, n.d.). As you can see there are many ethical standards that I feel should be followed when working within the community of Metcalfe Park, Milwaukee, WI. Metcalfe Park is a very impoverished and high crime rated neighborhood, therefore as human service professionals we can be an advocate to gather more resources for the community members. Lastly, standard 34, “human service professionals are aware of their own cultural

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10 backgrounds, beliefs, values, and biases. They recognize the potential impact of their backgrounds on their relationships with others and work diligently to provide culturally competent service to all their clients” (Scott, n.d.). It is important as human service professionals that we maintain our professionalism and focus on helping our clients regardless of our own thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Without ethics our court systems and law enforcement teams would not have the foundation needed for the actions they take because ethics give citizens a framework of the expectations that they must abide by from their government. Ethical issues when working with Metcalfe Park residents would be to avoid racial profiling, as most of the population is African American. It is important within the criminal justice system that every person who passes through, guilty or not are treated with fairness (Kramer, 2020). When so many people struggle, the community cannot reach its true potential.

11 References Areavibes. (n.d.). Metcalfe Park, Milwaukee, WI Demographics . Metcalfe Park, Wisconsin Population & Demographics. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.areavibes.com/milwaukee-wi/metcalfe+park/demographics/#:~:text=Metcalfe %20Park%2C%20Milwaukee%2C%20WI%20Demographics%20%20%20Statistic, %20%201.0%3A1%20%204%20more%20rows%20 Johnson, R. J. (2014, September 9). Residents, police officers link arms to embrace Metcalfe Park, Amani: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service . Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service | Your neighborhood. Your News. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://milwaukeenns.org/2014/09/09/residents-police-officers-link-arms-to-embrace- metcalfe-park-amani/ Jurberg, A. (2021, September 16). Police warn: The 3 most dangerous neighborhoods in Milwaukee: Ash Jurberg . NewsBreak Original. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://original.newsbreak.com/@ash-jurberg-560946/2289254691051-police-warn-the-3- most-dangerous-neighborhoods-in-milwaukee Kramer, L. (2020, May 18). Ethical dilemmas of justice . Legal Beagle. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from http://legalbeagle.com/7255673-ethical-dilemmas-justice.html Kujjo, J. (2022, March 9). Emergency services . Social Development Commission. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from http://www.cr-sdc.org/services/emergency-services

12 Kujjo, J. (2022, April 25). Education services. Social Development Commission. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from http://www.cr-sdc.org/services/education Metcalfe Park BNCP profile - datayoucanuse.org . (n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://datayoucanuse.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Metcalfe-BNCP-Profile.pdf Milwaukee Rescue Mission. (2022, March 2). Our programs . Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://milmission.org/programs/ NeighborhoodScout. (n.d.). Milwaukee, WI (Metcalfe Park) . Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wi/milwaukee/metcalfe-park#overview Niche. (2022). Living in Metcalfe Park . Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/metcalfe-park-milwaukee-wi/#crime-safety Scott, T. (n.d.). Ethical standards for HS Professionals . MemberClicks. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals Statista Research Department. (2021, October 8). Crime rate in the U.S. by type of crime 2020 . Statista. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/202703/crime- rate-in-the-usa-by-type-of-crime/ Silver, M. (2018, September 19). Poverty, Race & Milwaukee: Unpacking new U.S. Census estimates . WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.wuwm.com/news/2018-09-18/poverty-race-milwaukee-unpacking-new-u-s- census-estimates

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13 Swales, V. (2022, January 12). Acting mayor Johnson announces public safety plan to tackle gun violence, car thefts and reckless driving in Milwaukee. Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/01/12/cavalier- johnson-unveils-plan-to-tackle-milwaukee-citys-public-safety-crisis/9187218002/

HSE 480 FINAL 2-2 Milestone One

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