According to the National Center for Children in Poverty (www.nccp.org), 39% of the nation’s children live in low-income families, or twice the federal poverty level, and there are more than 13 million American children living in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, or $20,000 a year for a family of four. A child raised in poverty, particularly in cases of long-term poverty, lacks the necessary resources and faces countless obstacles in their course towards healthy development and preparedness for school. Low-income children commonly lack health insurance, have reduced vocabulary and reading abilities, and experience greater food insecurity and poor nutrition. In addition, they are more likely to have unmet developmental and health care needs, including vision, hearing, and developmental screenings, immunizations, and medication and treatment for chronic illnesses like asthma. However, the situation can be improved by providing all children with high-quality early child care and education experiences; educating parents, supporting their entrance into the workforce, and providing family-friendly work policies; and providing health insurance coverage, access to necessary social and developmental services, and a medical home for all children so that they receive comprehensive, continuous health care and support.
Resources
