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Even today, poverty affects millions of lives across the United States, including children. A staggering 16% of all children in the country live below the poverty line, impacting their education, health, and overall well-being. While poverty statistics might seem abstract, its effects go beyond individual families, affecting entire communities, straining social services, and limiting future opportunities for economic mobility.

The sobering prevalence of child poverty urgently demands solutions that address both the immediate needs of children in poverty and the long-term systemic barriers that perpetuate financial hardship. With data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report from PARequirements aims to highlight the extent of child poverty and its devastating impact.

Click here to download the printable PDF version of the chart.

Causes of Child Poverty

Child poverty is driven by multiple factors, many of which stem from systemic issues that limit opportunities for families. Some of the primary causes include:

Income Disparity:

High unemployment rates and low wages prevent families from securing stable incomes. Many parents work multiple jobs yet still struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare.

Discrimination and Disabilities:

People with disabilities, people of color, and women are more likely to be in poverty. This stems from systemic discrimination, which leads to people from these groups having more barriers to education and employment opportunities, which leads to impoverishment for their families, including children. As such, it’s no surprise that communities with higher diversity, such as The Bronx, rank higher for the percentage of children living in poverty.

Housing Insecurity:

Particularly in urban areas such as New York City, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, which all rank on the list, housing can be unaffordable. The rising cost of housing forces many families to live in overcrowded, unstable, or substandard conditions. Some face eviction, forcing them to move frequently, which disrupts children’s education and social stability.

Lack of Education:

Poor neighborhoods typically have less funding for schools, which means fewer resources per student, outdated equipment and materials, and sometimes even less experienced teachers, leaving low-income kids with a lower quality of education.

Lack of Social Programs:

For communities where high-paying jobs are scarce, social services are a crucial factor that can keep families afloat. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough resources in many places to provide support. Without resources such as food stamps or housing subsidies, families can be left without food or homes, setting them back further.

Effects of Poverty on Children

The consequences of child poverty go far beyond financial hardship, affecting nearly every aspect of a child's life. Children in poverty are more likely to experience:

Homelessness:

With many families struggling to afford basic necessities, impoverished people are oftentimes left unhoused. Without a guarantee of a place to live, children in such situations are subject to dangerous, overcrowded, and often unsafe environments. Additionally, being unhoused can cause difficulties with school attendance.

Hunger:

Children whose families live in poverty often do not get enough food to fuel their growing bodies. This can lead to developmental delays, both physical and mental.

Educational setbacks:

Students in low-income households are more likely to struggle academically, have lower graduation rates, and face difficulties accessing higher education opportunities.

Mental and physical health challenges:

Poverty is linked to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in children. Additionally, children living in poverty are at a greater risk for chronic illnesses and developmental delays.

Higher exposure to violence and crime:

Many poorer neighborhoods experience higher crime rates, which can expose children to unsafe environments and increase the likelihood of experiencing trauma and even sexual abuse.

Social and emotional struggles:

Children in poverty may face stigma, bullying, and social exclusion, which can impact their self-esteem and ability to form healthy relationships. Additionally, children in poverty have been found to take out their frustrations on other children through bullying.

The Link Between Poverty and Child Welfare

It’s important to note that poverty does not inherently equate to child abuse. Most impoverished families do their best to provide for their children despite immense challenges. However, economic stress can increase certain risk factors, such as housing instability and food insecurity, which can place children in vulnerable situations.

Research shows that families experiencing severe financial hardship are more likely to interact with child welfare systems. While these situations don’t always involve violence, they are very frequently tied to neglect. Additionally, children of single mothers and those with two non-working parents were significantly more likely to be maltreated.

On the other hand, when parents received financial relief from federal child credits, the reported number of child abuse cases went down by 5%. This proves that policies that offer assistance, such as food aid, housing support, and accessible childcare, are critical in preventing child abuse and neglect.

The statistics on child poverty represent real children, families, and communities in need of support, and raising awareness about child poverty is the first step toward meaningful change. If you’re an educator or healthcare professional in Pennsylvania, fulfilling your Act 31 training requirement is crucial in protecting at-risk children. Our state-approved courses provide an efficient and affordable way to complete this mandatory education. With our online modules, you can meet your requirements at your own pace while gaining essential knowledge to safeguard vulnerable children.

The Counties with the Highest Rate of Children Living in Poverty

Source: United States Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2022/demo/saipe/2022-state-and-county.html