One in six newborns were born poor over the past 40 years, and nearly half remained poor half their childhoods. These persistently poor children are nearly 90 percent more likely than never-poor children to enter their 20s without completing high school and are four times more likely to give birth outside of marriage during their teenage years. Children whose parents did not complete high school are less likely to complete high school themselves. This paper examines the magnitude of child poverty, family characteristics related to childhood poverty persistence, and childhood poverty's lasting…
Nearly half of children born to poor parents remained poor half their childhoods. Black children are especially disadvantaged: two-thirds of poor black newborns are persistently poor. Children who are poor early in life (age 0-2) are 30 percent less likely to complete high school than those first poor later in childhood, even after controlling for poverty duration and other factors. Reaching vulnerable children at birth is vital, as a childs early environment can affect brain development. This factsheet summarizes the report Child Poverty and Its Lasting Consequence". (Author abstract)
Demonstrating the urgent need for broad national action and collaboration between private and public leaders in our communities, The White House Council for Community Solutions released an analysis showing that in 2011 alone, taxpayers shouldered more than $93 billion to compensate for lost taxes and direct costs to support the young people disconnected from jobs and school. At least one in six young adults is disconnected from education and work, according to this report. Projections show that over the lifetime of these young people, taxpayers will assume a $1.6 trillion burden to meet the…
The catalog of research on programs for low-income couples contains summaries of studies that describe and analyze marriage and relationship education or other couple-based programs. Each study description provides details on the research, such as study design and characteristics of those included in the sample, and of the programs, such as structure, staffing and operations, and recruitment and retention. Also included in each study description is a rating based on the likelihood that the estimated effects are the result of the program rather than other factors. (Author abstract)
This summary provides a brief overview of the catalog of research on programs for low-income couples, which compiles information from 54 studies of 39 programs.
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Journal Article Responsible fathering programs address a range of obstacles to involvement; however, most concentrate on employment and co-parenting to the exclusion of men's mental health needs. Depression not only directly interferes with parent involvement, it also impacts employment and relationships. The goal of this paper was to determine the level of depressive symptoms presented at program intake by 120 men who participated in two different responsible fathering programs, and to examine the relationship between levels of depressive symptoms, other assessed needs, and treatment plans. One-third of the…
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Journal Article This paper documents a model for outreaching, connecting, and serving low-income, ethnically diverse, non-custodial fathers. Men are engaged "where they are" by building their strengths and addressing their needs. The Male Involvement Network's (MIN) collaborative model was created in Connecticut to help fathers become positive and healthy role models by increasing their attachment to their children and families (Smith, 2003). This clinically informed, case management model addresses their physical, emotional, mental, economic and spiritual health needs. Through a relational approach and…
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Journal Article I interviewed 57 low-income fathers about how they define responsible fatherhood. Unlike findings from previous research, their definition did not include financial provision or daily caregiving. Instead, their definition included six dimensions, some of which resemble a "Big Brother": spending time in non-caregiving activities; avoiding harm by voluntarily distancing from the child when it is in the child's best interest; acknowledging paternity in non-legal forums; spending money on gifts, joint activities, and special needs; monitoring the child's home for trouble; and minimizing absences…
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In 2008, 1 out of every 100 adults in the United States was incarcerated (Pew Center, 2008). Rates of incarceration are historically higher among men and the most disadvantaged, and these groups have experienced a disproportionate increase in their rates of incarceration from 1980 to 2008(Western and Wildeman, 2009). Using the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), this Profile provides an analysis of young men's contact with the criminal justice system (i.e., probation or incarceration) by the age of 25. It includes information on educational attainment, race/ethnicity,…
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Journal Article We examined the activities that low-income, ethnically diverse fathers of sons versus daughters engage in with their children in the preschool years. African American, Latino, and White fathers ( N = 426) from research sites across the United States, were interviewed about their caregiving, play, literacy, and visiting activities when their children were 2 years, 3 years, and preschool age. Fathers of boys engaged more frequently in physical play than fathers of girls, whereas fathers of girls engaged more frequently in literacy activities. Moreover, gendered patterns of father engagement…
