The only permanence that exists is uncertainty, at least when it comes to the fallout of the federal government shutdown’s impact on families on this 35th day of the budget impasse.
The federal government shutdown coupled with new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is revealing just how fragile the nation’s social safety net can be, according to University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) faculty who spoke during a virtual media panel hosted by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) on Nov. 4.
The federal government still needs to pass a budget bill to reopen the government, leaving questions as to what standard of service Americans can expect from social programs.
“I think that the shifting sands are causing more stress, more strain, more anxiety, more depression, more trauma,” said UMSSW Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW. “I mean, we could just keep going down this list that our families are going be experiencing, which then says they need to get help and those services may or may not be available to help them.”
The discussion explored how policy shifts and funding delays are affecting Maryland families, ranging from food insecurity and child development to domestic violence and community stability. The full recording is available for media access on UMB’s YouTube channel.
“This is the face of Marylanders,” said Stacey Stephens, MSW, LCSW-C, clinical associate professor and director of B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB) Upton/Druid Heights/Mondawmin.