Child Poverty in America Today

1
Child Poverty in America Today

• Jane Knitzer, Ed.D.
• Director
• GCYF September 27, 2005
• Denver, Colorado

2
An Overview

• 17 of all children (12 million) live in poverty
• 7 of all children live in extreme poverty (5
  million)
• Poverty has increased by 10 since 2000
• Federal poverty level in 2005
• 19,350 for a family of four
• Research tells us that in reality, takes 2 times
  the poverty level to meet basic needs

Sources Unless otherwise noted, all statistics
are estimates prepared by the National Center for
Children in Poverty from the Current Population
Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement,
March 2005.
3
Percent of Children Birth to 18 in Poor and
Low-Income Families
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
4
Child Poverty Varies

• By age
• By race and ethnicity
• By state (and region)

5
Child Poverty Varies By Age
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
6
Child Poverty by Age

• 20 of young children live in poor families,
  compared with 16 of children over six
• The younger the children, the more likely to be
  in poverty.
• The younger the children, the more harmful
  poverty is to developmental outcomes

7
Child Poverty Varies by Race/Ethnicity
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
8
Child Poverty Rates Vary By State
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
9
Child Poverty Rates Vary By State

• State child poverty rates vary from 7 in NH to
  30 in DC
• The highest rates of extreme child poverty are
  concentrated in the South
• In 29 states, the young child poverty rate is
  more than five percentage points higher than the
  rate for all children, sometimes double
• In the 10 most populated states, child poverty
  rates for
• African-American children range from 22 in NJ to
  44 in IL
• Latino children range from 17 in MI to 35 in NY
  and TX
• White children range from to 4 in NJ to 10 in
  GA, MI, NY, OH, and PA
• In the 6 states with the largest immigrant
  populations, poverty rates among children of
  immigrant parents range from 13 in NJ to 39 in
  TX

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Child Poverty in Gulf States Hit by Katrina
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
11
Child Poverty in Gulf States Hit by Katrina
Source Estimates prepared by the National Center
for Children in Poverty from the Current
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, March 2005.
12
Hardships Faced by Poor Children

• 19 of poor children lack health insurance
  compared to 10 of all children
• 9 of households must rely on public
  transportation (American Community Survey, 2004)
• 15 of young children lack health insurance
• 21 of parents of kindergarten children report
  that the child has not seen a dentist in past
  year (ECLS-K, 1998-99 kindergarten cohort)

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Child Poverty and Philanthropy

• Sustain public awareness
• State/regional campaigns
• Develop ways to help policymakers and
  practitioners understand how public policy
  impacts poverty (FRS)
• Promote state/regional specific efforts to craft
  policy reduction agendas (e.g., Connecticut)
• Address disparities in access

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For More Information

• Visit NCCPs web site at
• www.nccp.org

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If you would like more information, contact
Jane Knitzer at jk340_at_columbia.edu Or visit the
NCCP web site www.nccp.org