Our Mission
The Bucks County Women’s Advocacy
Coalition is a non-partisan coalition of
Bucks County individuals and the nonprofit organizations that serve women and
girls. We empower, educate and advocate
together to promote gender equality and
economic self-sufficiency for all.
Our Members
30 non-profit organizations
serving Bucks County
women and girls
11 Bucks County individuals
Our Partnership
We have joined in partnership
to create healthy communities
and to effect systemic change that
benefits women and girls.
Our Partnership
We believe in the principle of
shared responsibilities; individuals
and society (non-profits, for-profits,
government) each have responsibilities
in fostering economic self-sufficiency
and in creating healthy communities.
Desired Outcomes
Desired outcomes of the
Coalition’s work will mean more
issues will be viewed publicly
through a “gender lens”…
Desired Outcomes
1.
More people will know about
the need for better policies and
programming to achieve women’s
and girls’ economic security,
access to services, safety, and
leadership opportunities.
Desired Outcomes
2.
Policy makers and opinion
leaders will be more engaged
in issues regarding women’s
and girls’ economic security,
access to services, safety, and
leadership opportunities.
Desired Outcomes
3.
Systems (rules, laws, institutional
processes) will change and be
more responsive to the needs
of women and girls.
Desired Outcomes
4.
Coalitions and decision-making
bodies will be more diverse and
inclusive of all women’s and girls’
voices and issues.
Desired Outcomes
Advocacy on behalf of women
and girls will be stronger, more
coordinated, and strategic when
allied groups work together. We will
be more able to attain and sustain the
necessary resources and changes
needed in Bucks County.
5.
Our Focus
Economic self-sufficiency for all and
the interrelated issues that impact ESS:
Child Care • Education • Health Care
Housing • Jobs • Transportation
Domestic violence and addiction issues
affect all areas of concern.
Why Women?
 Women are the glue of our families and communities.
 Women are a window to the realities of life.
 Women are increasingly the heads of households.
 Women predominate in coming to our Bucks County
agencies, seeking help for themselves and their families.
Why Women?
 Women are one half the work force (Shriver Report)
and need supportive systems and gender equity.
 The Census shows that, in Bucks County, the
percentage of female-headed households with
children under 5 years old are 46.4 % below
the federal poverty level; with children under 18,
they are 22.7% below the poverty level.
Economic Self-Sufficiency
Bucks County Opportunity Council 2009 Graduates:
16 ESS graduate families
16 Adults (14 Female; 88% Female Head of Household)
24 Children (15 Girls, or 62%)
Average Beginning Income: $10,585 (8 on Welfare)
Average Ending Income: $40,236
Average Time on Program: 45 Months
Female Head of Household Graduate Families
Over Past 3 Years: 30 of 32 (94%)
Reality: Cliff Effect
As individuals and families start to rise out of poverty,
subsidies are reduced dramatically. A small increase
in wages can cause the loss of substantial subsidies
or the complete termination of a benefit, pushing a
family off an economic cliff as the support system
falls away. Bottom Line: Families end up
worse off than they were before.
Principles Statement
On behalf of Bucks County women and their families, the
Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition advocates
for empowering women with education, training,
resources and support so they may progress steadily
toward achieving economic self-sufficiency. The Coalition
supports a public and private economic and social
system in Bucks County based on shared
responsibilities and guided by the following principles:
Our ESS Principles
 To provide an adequate supply of employment
opportunities which pay family-sustaining wages;
 To provide access to high quality, affordable
childcare, eldercare and caregiver support;
 To provide health insurance coverage for all family members;
 To provide educational opportunities to achieve financial literacy;
 To provide comprehensive integrated services that are
accessible and available to all who need them;
Our ESS Principles (cont’d)
 To provide workplace training and development needed
for basic employment, ongoing marketability and advancement;
To provide safe, secure housing for all income levels and needs;
 To provide access to reliable transportation;
 To provide freedom from predatory and exploitive
practices and persons;
 To provide assistance that allows women and their families
to be as independent as possible and to
reach their full capacity in the economy.
Members Working Together
The effort to achieve these principles will be
guided by gender-specific data collection and
analysis, and accountability of all agencies and
organizations. Benchmarks will be set and
reviewed periodically to reflect the inherent
dynamics of the economy.
Shared Responsibility
Who is responsible for a Roadmap to
Economic Self-Sufficiency? We believe
it is a shared responsibility among
individuals and all sectors of society.
Non-profits, for-profits and government
all have a role and share in the responsibility
to help build healthy communities.
Systemic Change
It is no longer sufficient to treat the symptoms
of problems. Our shared responsibilities are to
address the root causes of poverty, truly
creating a Roadmap to Economic
Self-Sufficiency for the women and girls,
families and communities of Bucks County.
What’s Next?
Long-term commitment by coalition
members and their Boards of Directors.
Establishing a five-year strategic plan for
the principles that all members support
and on which advocacy is based.
What’s Next?
Develop by-laws to solidify
our coalition’s structure.
Expand our membership
and supporters.
Leadership Steering Committee
Nancy Morrill, Chair
Donna Byrne, Secretary
David Ford
Maggie Groff
Susan Hauser
Tam St. Claire