The state economy is stronger when people are united than when we are divided. We can focus on making sure Maine’s economy is strong by making pathways to opportunity open and accessible to all Mainers.

We know from research what works to strengthen those opportunity pathways and we can move forward to implement those strategies and build the economy. We won’t be successful by allowing any one part of our community to fall behind. Remembering that we are one nation indivisible can guide us in our work.

I am involved with growing a statewide coalition of local experts and citizens who have convened in response to the negative policies emerging and underway that shame the poor instead of doing the hard work of breaking the cycle of poverty here in Maine

Implementing singular, disconnected “programs” or strategies does not move individuals and families toward self-sufficiency.

One-in-four Maine children lives in poverty. In the rural “rim” counties, such as Piscataquis County where I have lived for the past 35 years, one-in-three children live in poverty.

Since 2011, 8,629 children lost their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Meanwhile, the poverty rate for children age 5 and under grew from 19.3 percent to 25 percent (that is 17,000 out of the roughly 65,000 Maine children ages 0-5).

We all can agree that benefit fraud and abuse should be stopped where it can. Despite the fact that this figure is less than two-tenths of one percent of the total, the TANF cash benefit is under fire for fraudulent use. Let’s not lose sight of the daily reality that 99 percent of the families who struggle to put food on the table, pay the rent, access job training and employment supports and love their kids, do not engage in fraud or abuse.

According to the Department of Labor, a Maine family of three must have an annual household income of at least $38,160 per year, or more than $18 per hour, to meet the most basic of needs, such as shelter, food, heat and transportation. In Maine, 45 percent of all Maine families earn less than $34,999 annually.

Many low-income families must choose between increasing their low-wage income by small amounts and losing their child care support that allows for full-day child care, or placing their children in sub-standard, low-quality and inconsistent care. They must navigate disconnected workforce training or community college schedules while trying to hold down low-wage work to put food on the table, because the food supplement is not enough.

I challenge anyone to figure out a way to feed a family a nutritious meal for $1.40 per person.

As a state, we must work collectively to ensure public policies, programs and services at the state and local community level that work to support families and help to prevent adverse experiences such as violence, adult substance abuse and hunger, and instead are well-nurtured and prepared to enter school.

At the same time, state leaders must ensure parents and caregivers have access to well-coordinated educational and workforce training programs, so they can end the need for subsidy supports — in whatever form, and better support their children’s development.

Until we accept this challenge, and move toward a more positive and supportive approach to these multi-generational realities, all of the negative rhetoric, punitive policies and negative attacks keep us divided and our economy weak.

Sue Mackey Andrews is co-facilitator of the Maine Resilience Building Network, president of the Solutions Consulting Group LLC and a member of the Poverty Action Collaborative. She lives in Dover-Foxcroft.