Study of intergenerational income assistance trends receives grant

A research team that includes two members of the King’s faculty has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant for a study on the intergenerational relationship between parental and child receipt of income assistance in Ontario. The team hopes to advance the Canadian literature on trends in income assistance use and further the understanding of labour trends.

Dr. Tracy Smith-Carrier, Associate Professor in King's School of Social Work serves as Principal Investigator. Other members of the team include Dr. Carrie Smith, Assistant Professor of Social Work at King’s University College, Dr. Amber Gazso of York University, and Dr. Stephanie Baker Collins of McMaster University.

This study builds on the investigators’ previous work, employing qualitative methods to explore participants' experiences and perspectives on income assistance usage, including the social, economic, health (and/or mental health) and environmental factors that influence income assistance access for parents and their adult children.

Dr. Smith-Carrier notes that to date, there is no publicly available quantitative research about intergenerational income assistance trends in Ontario. “Given this notable absence, the research will allow us to better understand the nature of income assistance participation. We hope it will lead us to consider policy options that would more effectively address poverty reduction. As well, we hope to provide recommendations that could proactively address the systemic barriers which keep people below low income thresholds over time, whether as participants of income assistance or as members of the working poor,” says Dr. Smith-Carrier.

The research associated with the SSHRC Insight Grant is only one part of a larger program of research. This next phase examines intergenerational trends in income assistance utilization using statistical analyses. The Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has provided the team with unique data that are not currently available through university-based research data centres. The collaboration with the Ministry has been instrumental in allowing the team to move this project forward.

 “A great deal of work has been put forward by the team members to date,” says Dr. Smith-Carrier. The team has already produced four publications and will continue to publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences. They have also met with government officials to discuss their qualitative research findings.

“We anticipate that our meetings with government officials will advance policy recommendations arising from the research, ensuring that the knowledge co-created is utilized by decision-makers and translates into positive policy change,” says Dr. Smith-Carrier.