Youth Living in Poverty

Children ages 0-18 years of age that are living in families with income below the Federal Poverty Level.

Population:

  • In 2017, 18% of children (13 million) lived in families with incomes below the poverty line.
  • This rate fell from 21% (15 million) in 2015.

National Trends:

  • Children that live below the poverty line are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities than those who don’t live in poverty (Currie, n.d.).
  • 8 million children live in high poverty neighborhoods (defined as 30% or more of the population are living in poverty). Concentrated high poverty neighborhoods negatively affects all kids living in the area – not only children in low income households but those who are economically better off (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2017).
  • In 2017, 18% of children (13 million) lived in families with incomes below the poverty line. This rate fell from 21% (15 million) in 2015 (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2018).

References

Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2018). Kids Count Data Book

Currie, J. A. (n.d.). Poverty Among Inner-City Children. Retrieved March 1, 2014, from https://scholar.princeton.edu/jcurrie/publications-0.

Data Snapshot on High-Poverty Communities (2017, February). Retrieved from www.aecf.org/resources/datasnapshot-on-high-poverty-communities

Resources

Youth Living in Poverty Champion Group Logic Model

Helping Youth Thrive Through an Equity Lens: Youth Living in Poverty Fact Sheet

Youth in Poverty Tip Sheet  Download

Youth Living in Poverty Education

Engaging Youth Living in Poverty in 4-H

Co-Chairs
Jen Hargrove
hargrove@iastate.edu

Sarah Chvilicek
sarahc@unr.edu