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Better results for kids and families through research-informed policy

Executive Summary

1. What Results Do You Want?

Poor children are disproportionately exposed to a variety of risk factors – including inadequate nutrition, substandard housing and untreated illness – that can affect their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Research shows poor children are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, mental health problems, and educational challenges, among other negative outcomes. Creating economic opportunity for families ensures that they can earn adequate income and build assets that will enable them to avoid poverty and its risk factors. Because the economic well-being of children and their parents is inextricably linked, successful policy strategies will promote opportunities for both parents and children. See more information on priorities and indicators.

2. How Are Your Kids?

In 2010, child poverty reached its highest level since 1993 – more than one in five children lived in families with incomes below the poverty line and 10 percent of children lived in families with incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line. See data for your state and guidance for understanding root causes, projections, and setting targets.

3.  What Can Policymakers Do?

Strategies

Increase Household Financial Resources

  • Employment
  • Income support

Control Household Costs

  • Make quality child care affordable
  • Increase access to health care
  • Promote affordable housing
  • Reduce predatory financial practices

Build Household Assets

  • Enhance short-term/emergency savings
  • Encourage long-term savings and investment

Curb Household Debt

  • Cap interest on small loans
  • Prevent mortgage foreclosures
  • Enhance banking options

Success Story: Washington

4.  How Can You Ensure Success?

Guidance on successful implementation and accountability strategies to reduce to child poverty.

5. How Can You Sustain Success?

Guidance on financing and investing in results.


A Two-Generation Approach. The economic well-being of children and their parents are inextricably linked, so successful policy strategies will promote opportunities for parents and opportunities for children at the same time.

Make Work Work.Effective job training and work supports can help low-wage workers climb the ladder to economic success.

Make Work Pay.To achieve economic success, low-wage families must be able to keep more of what they earn.Tax relief, effective work supports and protection against predatory financial practices can help.

Resource. Household Food Security in the United States in 2010, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Race Equity. According to ChildTrends, Hispanic and black children are more likely to live in poor families than are white and Asian children. In 2010, 5 percent of Hispanic children and 39 percent of black children, compared to 18 percent of white children and 14 percent of Asian children, were living in poverty.