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Assessing Poverty Attributions with the Blame Index | Elena Delavega | TEDxMemphis

2,342 views · Published 5 June 2018 · 7:27 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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When social service or healthcare providers blame the poor for their poverty, they may exhibit less patience with clients in poverty, dismiss their concerns, or generally provide a lower level of service. At the same time, clients who feel shamed may seek services less, become less trusting, or resist care. In order to improve health and other social outcomes for clients in poverty, it is important to assess and reduce blaming among service providers.  Elena Delavega, PhD, MSW is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Memphis.

Her most recent project involves measuring attributions of poverty with the Blame Index, which she developed with Dr. Peter Kindle of the University of South Dakota.

Elena also serves as Associate Director of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change and as founder and co-director of the Social Welfare Research Consortium, SWRC. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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