Poverty and Child Health in the United States

Abstract

Almost half of young children in the United States live in poverty or near poverty. The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating child poverty in the United States. Poverty and related social determinants of health can lead to adverse health outcomes in childhood and across the life course, negatively affecting physical health, socioemotional development, and educational achievement. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for programs and policies that have been shown to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for children and families living in poverty. With an awareness and understanding of the effects of poverty on children, pediatricians and other pediatric health practitioners in a family-centered medical home can assess the financial stability of families, link families to resources, and coordinate care with community partners. Further research, advocacy, and continuing education will improve the ability of pediatricians to address the social determinants of health when caring for children who live in poverty. Accompanying this policy statement is a technical report that describes current knowledge on child poverty and the mechanisms by which poverty influences the health and well-being of children.

Intergenerational education mobility and depressive symptoms in a population of Mexican origin

“…Support of state and federal anti-poverty and safety net programs that help halt intergenerational poverty cycles by assisting disadvantaged families may ultimately alleviate some of depression’s burden. Additionally, recommendations for poverty screenings, much like those recently issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics[47], could be made to all family practitioners. Our study further suggests that implementation of targeted depression screening practices where multiple generations of poverty are identified could improve identification of depression in this underdiagnosed population and ultimately lead to increased treatment among individuals of Mexican origin.…”

Parental Attitudes, Behaviors, and Barriers to School Readiness among Parents of Low-Income Latino Children

“…The current standard of care is Reach Out And Read (ROAR), a national program where pediatricians provide books and model developmentally appropriate reading practices to low-income patients [6,16]. More interventions are emerging and supported within the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatrics Association strategic, multiyear focus to ameliorate poverty [34]. Several examples include Puerto Rican parents who were taught a drill to practice letters with their child which led to significant improvement, regardless of the parent’s education or English proficiency [35].…”

CDC Grand Rounds: Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood

“…Screening measures inclusive of social determinants of health provide opportunities for strengthening protective factors through family, community, and health care connections ( 3 ). Public health activities to improve early detection and referral to treatment include the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention* programs to identify hearing loss in infants; online tools developed by CDC and AAP for identifying motor delays † ; and Learn the Signs.…”

“…Two-generation approaches that support the health, educational achievement, economic self-sufficiency, and wellbeing of both children and their caregivers have indicated some beneficial effects on early childhood literacy and language development ( 3 , 7 ). Within primary care, screening and referral to appropriate services for maternal depression can support the parent-child relationship and enhance both child and maternal health ( 3 ).…”

“…Stressors in early childhood can disrupt neurologic, metabolic, and immunologic systems, leading to poorer developmental outcomes ( 1 ). However, consistent, responsive caregiving relationships and supportive community and health care environments promote an optimal trajectory ( 3 , 4 ). The first 8 years of a child’s life build a foundation for future health and life success ( 5 – 7 ).…”