There are almost 11 million children in the U.S. who currently live in poverty. The minors below the age of five are especially vulnerable and experience significantly higher rates of poverty than older children do. Not only do children in poverty lack basic human rights, but are also prone to negative effects on brain development during these critical years. Subsequently, this halted development affects the well-being of these children in their later years. Further, children of color receive a disproportionate representation, which in turn can harmfully affect them by reinforcing systemic injustices and expanding racial wealth gaps. Overall, detrimental repercussions of child poverty impose substantial costs on the society and economy of the U.S.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only made the issue evident to a greater extent and necessitates urgent assistance or solutions. The nation-wide lockdowns have forced many parents to leave their occupations of primary income and in turn, became unable to ensure child care. In fact, the number of children living with unemployed parents or guardians had reached a historic height with 21 percent of children having at least one unemployed parent in April 2020.
Although the pandemic has compounded the issues revolving around child poverty, the lacking economic stability of many children and families have been prevalent prior to the health crisis. The causes of child poverty can be traced back to systemic inequalities, such as disproportionate percentages of children in poverty within Black and Latinx communities. Other factors include the inability to find employment, time and ability to perform responsible caregiving, single parenthood, and a multitude of life events that can increase the risk of children’s economic insecurity (McGrath, 2021). Unfortunately, both previous and some of the current policies have allowed such adverse outcomes.
There are many alterations and additions that can be made to enforce policies that protect children against living in poverty. These policies would have to secure every family’s right to basic needs such as food assistance, housing support, and healthcare services. Parents can be aided through improved unemployment insurance plans, guaranteed family and medical paid leave, increased minimum wages, appropriate pricing for child care and preschool education, and effective tax credits that for all low-income families. Social policies and reforms should address generational poverty and the historically unjust systemic laws that negatively affect marginalized groups. The closing of the current racial wealth gap is an essential step in eliminating child poverty.
Due to the wide range of factors affecting children in poverty, an incrementalist approach towards the policy is the most appropriate one. The programs that are currently providing support for children in poverty focus on different demographics and can therefore be analyzed one by one. Additionally, such issues as unemployment, unaffordable care, or systemic injustices based on racial characteristics have differing but connected solutions that can be addressed by different policies.
For instance, programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are essential in supporting and allowing families to afford nutrition. It was also found that both organizations have been associated with beneficial outcomes for mothers and their children. There have been recorded health improvements, both short and long-term, enhanced access to education, and increase in economic security. This progress is substantial but covers only one need, nutrition, and a limited demographic encompassing women and children. It would be advantageous to continue both budgetary and policy support to such organizations but also to expand to other needs such as medical care, housing, education, and to other social groups, such as single fathers or children who are unable to access previous programs.
Reference
McGrath, J. (2021). Biden’s American Rescue Plan boosts working families with children, let’s make that permanent. USA Today. Web.