From Both Sides of the Desk: A Qualitative Analysis of Social Service Workers' Perceptions of Poverty in the Ozarks

Abstract

Poverty levels in the Springfield/Greene County/Ozarks area have risen despite substantial increases in allocated funds for resources and programs aimed at addressing the challenges families in poverty encounter. A qualitative study was conducted to identify social service providers' subjective perceptions of poverty, clients, organizations, and policies. Major themes included stagnation; God and poverty; poverty as mental, psychological, and social disease; and poverty as mind-set. Major themes were compared to perspectives of poverty articulated by families in poverty as a catalyst for generating solutions.

Keywords:

• poverty
• Ozarks
• bias
• service providers

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Special thanks to the Hand in Hand Multicultural Center for support.