Since they can’t brag that Obama’s plan (and their leadership) is working, they do a 180 and change the perception of sucking on the government teat. It’s awesome. Come on now. There’s enough milk for everyone. Don’t worry the cow loves being sucked dry . . .

GRAND RAPIDS — The state is on a campaign to reduce negative perceptions about those who need welfare, saying the stigma tarnishes the program and keeps people from getting help.

The “Welfare 101: Busting Myths about Welfare” campaign is scheduled to roll into Grand Rapids today to dispel misperceptions such as most recipients coming from poor, urban areas.

“The economic pain is being felt everywhere,” said Ismael Ahmed, director of the Department of Human Services. “Trust me when I say that need does not discriminate. It does not recognize race, gender, religion, and certainly not whether a person lives in the city of Grand Rapids or Grandville, Holland or Grand Haven, Muskegon or Whitehall.”

During today’s event, hosted by Catholic Charities West Michigan, Ahmed and others planned to discuss how the state’s poor economy has driven an unprecedented number of families to seek help with food and bills.

BY THE NUMBERS:
The state Department of Human Services kicked off a campaign in April to dispel welfare misperceptions such as recipients only living in poor areas. Below is a comparison of city-suburb benefit recipients for food and Medicaid from July 2008 to April of this year for Kent and Ottawa counties.

Grand Rapids

Medicaid recipients — 33 percent increase, from 56,782 to 75,600.
Food assistance — 19 percent increase, from 54,802 to 65,304.

Grandville

Medicaid recipients — 43 percent increase, from 1,974 to 2,813.
Food assistance — 51 percent increase, from 1,392 to 2,104.

Rockford

Medicaid recipients — 47 percent increase, from 1,992 to 2,924.
Food assistance –52 percent increase, from 1,434 to 2,177.

Holland

Medicaid recipients — 33 percent increase, from 11,016 to 14,671.
Food assistance –35 percent increase, from 9,116 to 12,318.

Grand Haven

Medicaid recipients — 36 percent increase, from 2,403 to 3,271.
Food assistance –60 percent increase, from 1,731 to 2,772.

Zeeland

Medicaid recipients — 39 percent increase, from 1,774 to 2,460.
Food assistance –69 percent increase, from 1,006 to 1,701.
. . .
“Those myths cause a negative stigma that may prevent some people, especially those families with young children or the elderly, to seek help,” he said. “We want to put an end to that.”

MLive