Reduce Child Poverty

Targets: Reducing Child Poverty

Some states are setting targets for poverty reduction as a way of mobilizing public will and increasing commitment and accountability to a clear goal. 

Questions to Consider 

• How can policymakers balance ambitious targets with fair and realistic expectations?
• Can targets be set for specific groups and regions within the state, since racial disparities, geographic differences and other variations often explain overall state poverty rates?
• How can state policy influence poverty rates, and how much regional or national action will also be required?  

What States Are Doing

• Six states have set targets for reducing some measure of poverty (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont).  Of these states, four chose goals of reducing poverty by 50 percent over 10 years.
• Typically, these states set one 10 year target, rather than annual targets, to account for potentially uneven change from year to year.
• For more lessons from the field, click on the following resources:
• Child Poverty Reduction Targets Set By U.S. States
• Setting and Achieving Poverty Targets: What the Research Tells Us