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

• Typical Targets. Several states have set targets for reducing some measure of poverty including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont.  Typically, they chose the goal of reducing poverty by 50 percent over 10 years¹.
• Long Term vs. Short Term. States generally set one long term target, rather than annual targets, to account for potentially uneven change from year to year. For more information on Setting and Achieving Poverty Targets:  What the Research Tells Us. 

^{1Child Poverty Reduction Targets Set By U.S. States}