Poverty & Family Economics

One in five children live in poverty today. Economic insecurity in childhood can often lead to lifelong disadvantages, ranging from poor health to low achievement in school. Federal investments like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit lift millions of children and families out of poverty every year, but yet children still continue to bear the brunt of the recession’s effects. The good news is that we know how to reduce child poverty.

Modeled after the United Kingdom's efforts, the Child Poverty Action Group is a network of organizations committed to setting a child poverty target through a coordinated strategy of investments for children, measures to make work pay, and efforts to increase financial support for families. We need to build on what works and help families provide the security that is essential so that all children can fulfill their potential. Sign up to receive updates from the Child Poverty Action Group to learn how you can be part of ending poverty among children and families. 

Resources


Let’s ensure no child in the U.S. goes hungry and that every child has a safe and stable place to live

| November 15, 2022 |

This week marks Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a time for action toward the goal of ensuring that no child in the U.S. goes


Keeping up with progress: How the U.S. can follow the world’s lead on child poverty

| November 7, 2022 |

The United States has historically had a higher level of child poverty than many other wealthy countries because we have failed to invest in


Policy Brief: The Biden Administration Public Charge Regulation —What does it mean for children in immigrant families?

| October 26, 2022 |

Approximately 1-in-4 children in the United States has an immigrant parent, and children of immigrants are the fastest-growing group of children in the United


How Congress can reduce economic hardship & stabilize families now

| October 19, 2022 |

We learned recently that improvements to the Child Tax Credit enacted in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act nearly cut our child poverty


U.S. Child Poverty in 2021

| September 21, 2022 |

On September 13, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the United States saw the lowest child poverty rate on record, with 5.2% of


It’s way too early to declare victory over child poverty

| September 20, 2022 |

Child poverty in this country last year dropped to the lowest rate ever recorded and, according to new research, has declined by nearly 60%


Child poverty drops to historic lows, Census reports

| September 13, 2022 |

Decline proves “child poverty is a policy decision” U.S. child poverty dropped to the lowest rate ever recorded, according to government figures released today,


Undoing the Racist Legacy of Cash Assistance in the South: Reimagining TANF Using the “Black Women Best” Framework

| August 31, 2022 |

This paper is part of First Focus on Children’s upcoming series Big Ideas 2022: The American South Forward This report was written before the


The Family Security Act 2.0 Creates Winners and Losers

| July 8, 2022 |

Our children are facing some of the most challenging times seen in our nation’s history. America’s historically high rate of child poverty and significant


Comment on proposed changes to the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey

| May 18, 2022 |

First Focus on Children submitted the following comment to the Office of Management and Budget to stress the need for long-term access to frequent