Washington Area Women's Foundation

Weekly Round-Up: News and Analysis on Women and Poverty (Week ending January 16, 2009)

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with The Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty.

Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty. And every Friday, look for our weekly rundown of the top news stories on women and poverty.

Here’s this week’s news:

  • As the House gets ready to pass an expansion of health care services, there is controversy about allowing immigrant pregnant women immediate coverage, according to The Washington Post.
  • As noted by the Los Angeles Times, cuts in state healthcare coverage include reductions in treatment for breast and cervical cancer for low-income women.
  • The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on a federal lawsuit against the “conscience rule,” which allows health providers to refuse contraceptive services, even in the event of rape, and which advocates fear will harm those in poverty.
  • In an article featured in the Venture County Star, it is reported that excess water in baby formula—a cost-saving measure for low-income mothers—can be harmful to infants.
  • The York Daily Record quotes Pennsylvania lawmakers who want to repeal a child-support tax that they think harms single mothers.

To learn more about Spotlight, visit www.spotlightonpoverty.org.  To sign up for our weekly updates with the latest news, opinion and research from around the country, click here.

The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity Team

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity is a foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that our political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States. We bring together diverse perspectives from the political, policy, advocacy and foundation communities to engage in an ongoing dialogue focused on finding genuine solutions to the economic hardship confronting millions of Americans.